Techniques and examples of efficient detection of a transmission session in New Radio unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) are described. An apparatus (e.g., user equipment (UE)) detects presence of an indication from a base station of a wireless network in an NR-U. The apparatus determines that a transmission opportunity (TXOP) follows the indication responsive to the detecting. The apparatus then receives a downlink (DL) transmission in the NR-U from the base station during the TXOP.