The opening game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets wouldn’t have gone into double overtime if the officials had called a technical foul on Kevin Durant, who almost had a Chris Webber moment towards the end of the first overtime.
Crew chief Zach Zarba said that they didn’t see Durant’s timeout signal. The Oklahoma City Thunder eventually won 125-124, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander briefly discussed the incident during the postgame press conference.
“I think definitely he called timeout about three times — verbally and physically with his hands,” Gilgeous-Alexander via ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. “I think the refs just missed it, but that’s life. You make mistakes in life, and you move on. Nothing too crazy. They didn’t do it on purpose or anything. It’s just life. You miss things. You make mistakes. You move on.”
Gilgeous-Alexander had another MVP-caliber performance for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were without Jalen Williams. The one-time NBA champion had 35 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks on 12-for-26 shooting from the field and 10-for-14 from the free throw line.
Oklahoma City Thunder News: Mark Daigneault has terse response on Kevin Durant timeout no-call
Mark Daigneault was among those who were shocked when the referees didn’t notice Kevin Durant’s late timeout call. When Daigneault was asked about it in the postgame presser, the Oklahoma City Thunder head coach said he had already moved on from the incident.
“I said what I needed to say, and I’m over it,” Daigneault said via Brandon Rahbar of the Daily Thunder.
In what was a “Ball Don’t Lie” moment, the Oklahoma City Thunder got the opening night victory when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit two clutch free throws late in the second overtime after drawing Kevin Durant’s sixth foul.
