The Portland Trail Blazers are set to contest the outcome of their recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking one of the most peculiar endings of the season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team intends to file a protest with the NBA regarding their 111-109 defeat, specifically focusing on a sequence that resulted in head coach Chauncey Billups receiving two technical fouls after an unsuccessful attempt to call a timeout.
The contentious play unfolded with less than 20 seconds remaining. The Blazers, holding a slim 109-108 lead, found guard Malcolm Brogdon trapped near half-court. Billups, positioned nearby, sought to call a timeout to rescue his player, but official Brandon Schwab reportedly didn’t notice until after Brogdon attempted to escape the defensive pressure.
Schwab called a double-dribble on Brogdon, leading to a turnover in favor of the Thunder. The situation worsened for the Blazers when an agitated Billups received a technical foul for making contact with Schwab during the call and another for continuing to argue his case, resulting in an automatic ejection. Brogdon also expressed frustration for not receiving a timeout.
The outcome was two free throws, possession for the Thunder, and the absence of the Blazers’ head coach. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of the free throws, tying the game at 109-109. With possession after the free throws, the Thunder secured the victory with a jump shot by rising star Jalen Williams.
The loss dropped the Blazers’ record to 12-31 during their rebuilding year.
After the game, both sides presented their perspectives.
Billups expressed his frustration, stating, “It was just a tough situation. We got timeouts. Referees usually are prepared for that, you know? That instance, that situation. I’m at half-court, trying to call a timeout. It’s just a frustrating play. My guys play too hard for that.”
Brogdon echoed Billups’ sentiment, mentioning, “Chaunce, the whole staff, was calling timeout. I turned literally to the ref on the sideline; clearly, the ref didn’t want us to have a timeout, so we couldn’t get one. I get scratched in the face, I’m bleeding at the end. This one’s not on us.”
Crew chief Bill Kennedy explained the referee’s position, noting that the double-team in front of him made it challenging to hear and see Billups requesting a timeout. Kennedy defended the correct call of the double-dribble and the subsequent technical fouls.
The likelihood of the protest being granted is minimal, given that only six protests have been approved in NBA history, with the last one occurring over 40 years ago due to a miscount of Shaquille O’Neal’s fouls. The more probable outcome is Billups facing an automatic fine for criticizing the officials.
