In a dramatic NBA season opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant found himself at the center of a viral controversy.

With the score tied 115–115 and just over two seconds left in the first overtime, Durant secured a rebound after teammate Tari Eason blocked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential game-winner. Under pressure, Durant instinctively signaled for a timeout, forgetting the Rockets had none remaining.​

Ordinarily, such an action results in a technical foul, granting the opponent a free throw and possession, an error infamously dubbed “a Chris Webber moment.”

But to the astonishment of players and fans, referees ignored Durant’s signal, letting the play clock expire and forcing a second overtime.​

Referees Face Backlash and NBA Review

Immediately following the sequence, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stormed onto the court, demanding an explanation. The officiating crew, led by Zach Zarba and including referee Eric Dalen, conferred briefly but did not penalize Houston.

Social media erupted, with fans accusing officials of “saving” Durant from a career-defining gaffe. The NBA later acknowledged that the referees missed the call, confirming the Rockets had no timeouts left at that point.​

Had the timeout been granted, Oklahoma City would have received a technical free throw that could have effectively ended the game after one overtime. Instead, the chaos extended play by another five minutes, during which Gilgeous-Alexander hit clutch free throws to seal a 125–124 Thunder victory.​

Durant’s Reaction: Accountability and Irony

After the loss, Durant admitted to a string of costly errors, including a missed free throw late in regulation and the ill-timed timeout motion. “That’s on me,” he told reporters postgame. “We had a chance to close it, and I made a mental mistake”.

He managed 23 points and nine rebounds in his Houston debut, though his lapse became the night’s defining moment. Comparisons to Webber’s 1993 NCAA blunder flooded social media, sealing yet another dramatic chapter in Durant’s storied career.

The irony? The former MVP narrowly avoided adding a historic technical foul to an already chaotic return to Oklahoma City, thanks to what many already call one of the luckiest missed calls of the season.