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Referees let Kevin Durant get away with a crazy late-game blunder

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 12:06 AM ET

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant nearly channeled his inner Chris Webber during Tuesday’s NBA season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder and Rockets were tied at 115 with 4.7 seconds left in overtime inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got his potential game-winning shot blocked, which allowed Durant to take possession with a couple of seconds left.

Durant desperately tried to call a timeout to get the Rockets one final crack at a walk-off shot. The problem was, Houston no longer had any timeouts remaining.

Kevin Durant called for a timeout, but Houston had none, and the refs didn’t see it.

WOW — DOUBLE OVERTIME.

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 22, 2025

The referees did not notice Durant calling the timeout, which should have resulted in an automatic technical foul. The Thunder should have been awarded a technical free throw with about a second left on the clock.

The Thunder players and even head coach Mark Daigneault protested the missed call profusely, but to no avail.

Durant, who was heckling Thunder fans before the game, spared himself from major embarrassment in front of his old fan base. Even the referees may be a little rusty this early in the season.

Coincidentally, the Thunder won the game 125-124, a one-point win as if they were awarded the free throw all along.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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