NBA fans who tuned into the highly anticipated game between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night may have experienced a wave of nostalgia, reminiscent of Chris Webber's infamous timeout call during the 1993 NCAA Men’s Tournament championship game. With the score deadlocked at 115 in overtime, Oklahoma City's star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had his mid-range jumper swatted away by Houston's Tari Eason, leading to a critical moment in the match.
As time dwindled down to 2.2 seconds, Kevin Durant grabbed the rebound and attempted to call a timeout. However, there was a significant issue: the Rockets had exhausted all their timeouts. According to the NBA's official rules for the 2025-26 season, specifically Rule No. 12 on Fouls and Penalties, a team that requests a timeout beyond their allotted number should be penalized with a technical foul.
The rule states: “Requests for a timeout in excess of the authorized number shall be granted, and a technical foul shall be assessed. Following the timeout and free-throw attempt, the ball will be awarded to the team which shot the free throw, and play shall resume with a throw-in nearest the spot where play was interrupted.” In simpler terms, the Rockets should have faced a technical foul, resulting in a free throw opportunity for the Thunder and possession of the ball.
Despite the clear implications of the rule, the officiating crew, led by crew chief Zach Zarba, along with referees Eric Dalen and Jason Goldenberg, failed to call a technical foul. As the first overtime came to a close, the game moved into a second overtime, leaving Thunder players and coach Mark Daigneault in disbelief. “Kevin definitely called timeout about three times, verbally and physically with his hands,” noted Gilgeous-Alexander. “I think the refs just missed it. But that’s life. You make mistakes in life and you move on.”
In a brief postgame interview, Zarba explained the reasoning behind the non-call, stating, “None of the three game officials saw Kevin signal that timeout. That’s why it wasn’t granted before the expiration of time.” Ultimately, this controversial moment did not severely impact the outcome of the game. The Thunder triumphed over the Rockets 125-124 in double overtime, thanks to a missed contested jumper from the left corner by Jabari Smith Jr. just as time expired.
This incident draws a striking parallel to the 1993 NCAA Men’s Tournament final, where Chris Webber of the Michigan Wolverines infamously called a timeout his team did not have, resulting in a costly technical foul that led to their defeat against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Just as in that storied encounter, the Rockets faced a moment that could have changed the game dramatically.
The thrilling season opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder not only provided excitement on the court but also a hint of controversy that sets the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable 2025-26 NBA regular season.
