In a night that saw the Portland Trail Blazers face the Western Conference-leading Thunder, the battle on the court was only a prelude to the turmoil that unfolded in the dying seconds. A thrilling contest took an unexpected turn when a potential game-changing timeout plea by Blazers’ Head Coach Chauncey Billups was met with deaf ears from the officials. The Blazers Launch Official Protest against the NBA, asserting that the controversial non-granting of a timeout played a pivotal role in their narrow 111-109 defeat.
Blazers Launch Official Protest in Aftermath of Thunder Defeat
The tense situation unraveled with 15.1 seconds on the clock, Blazers leading 109-108, and Malcolm Brogdon trapped near the half-court line. Billups urgently signaled for a timeout, but the officials turned a blind eye. Instead, Brogdon was slapped with a double dribble violation, sparking Billups’ furious intervention. The consequence? Two technical fouls and an ejection for the Blazers’ coach, leaving Portland in chaos.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capitalized on the ensuing free throws, tying the game at 109-109, setting the stage for the Thunder’s dramatic victory with Jalen Williams sinking a game-winning jumper at 2.1 seconds.
Billups, visibly frustrated, voiced his discontent after the game, stating, “We’ve 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 frustrating. My guys played too hard for that. It’s a frustrating play.”
However, NBA official Bill Kennedy defended the decision, explaining that the referee responsible for granting timeouts was focused on the double-team near him, making it challenging to perceive Billups’ request. Kennedy emphasized the commitment to referee the play until completion, justifying the subsequent double dribble call and technical fouls.
Now, the Blazers are taking the fight off the court, filing an official protest within the 48-hour window allowed by the NBA. The cost? A hefty $10,000, refundable only if the protest proves successful. This move puts Portland in a rare position, as the NBA has only upheld a protest six times in its entire history, the last instance dating back to 2007.
As the Blazers set the stage for a potential showdown with the league, the controversy adds an extra layer of intensity to an already heated NBA season. The battle may have been lost on the court, but the war between the Blazers and the officials is just beginning, with the outcome carrying implications far beyond the 111-109 scoreline.
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