Missed Durant Timeout Prompts League Review

Oklahoma City opened the 2025–26 NBA season by raising its championship banner and receiving custom 14‑karat rings designed by Zo Frost, but the celebration was overshadowed by a double-overtime classic. The defending‑champion Thunder held off the Houston Rockets 125–124, with Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander scoring 35 points and sinking two clutch free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining. Alperen Şengün erupted for a career night (39 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists) for Houston, while Chet Holmgren made key plays for OKC; Kevin Durant scored 23 in his Rockets debut, fouled out late and missed Houston’s final possession. Late in the first overtime Durant appeared to call a timeout when Houston had none — a technical by rule that would have awarded the Thunder a free throw and possession — but crew chief Zach Zarba said none of the officials saw the signal. The missed timeout call sent the game to a second overtime and prompted postgame pool reports and a league review amid sharp fan criticism. Elsewhere on opening night the Golden State Warriors beat a LeBron James‑less Lakers 119–109.