The final few possessions of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 111-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers featured mayhem.
With 30 seconds left, Anfernee Simons hit a highly difficult 3-pointer to give the Trail Blazers a three-point lead. OKC responded on the next possession: Jalen Williams cut the deficit to one point.
After Brogdon was called for a double dribble with 15 seconds left, Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups lost his cool and charged the officials, earning himself two technicals and an automatic ejection.
The costly sequence resulted in two free-throw attempts and possession for the Thunder. It served as a death knell for Portland’s upset aspirations.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander split the free-throw attempts, but Williams hit the game-winner on the ensuing possession after working to get to his spot on the left elbow side to nail a fadeaway jumper.
After the game, head official Bill Kennedy explained Billups received two technicals because of physical contact with a referee and his reaction to the first technical.
“The first technical foul was issued due to contact while Chauncey was trying to express himself to the official,” Kennedy explained in a pool report. “He makes contact with the official two times, and the result is a technical foul.
“The second technical foul was assessed due to the fact that Chauncey aggressively now tries to follow and pursue the official after the first technical foul was assessed.”
Pool report on Chauncey Billups’ ejection with referee Bill Kennedy: pic.twitter.com/3BdRUoyGzw
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 24, 2024
After the game, Billups said he was upset because he tried to call a timeout when Brogdon was trapped before his costly turnover.
“We’ve got timeouts,” Billups said. “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.”
Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups post game on the late game controversial call where Billups was attempting to call a timeout, but the call on the floor was a double dribble by the officials which led to two Portland technicals late. pic.twitter.com/UT1h986td6
— Michael Martin (@MichaelOnSports) January 24, 2024
The Trail Blazers will reportedly protest the result due to Billups’ ejection resulting in two free throws and possession for the Thunder.
Per the NBA rules, a team must file a protest within 48 hours of the final result. Both the Thunder and Trail Blazers have five days to submit their evidence. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has five additional days to issue a ruling.
Blazers HC Chauncey Billups was given two technical fouls at the end of the 4th, ejecting him from the game. 😬 pic.twitter.com/AMHn5LXTWS
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 24, 2024
This was Portland’s best outing yet against OKC this season. Following two blowout losses that included a 62-point defeat, the Trail Blazers nearly pulled off the upset against the Thunder.
“They blew us out (by) 62 a week-and-a-half ago,” Billups said. “We said ‘Listen, either you’re going to roll or get rolled on.’ That’s how this game works. Our guys, they rolled today. They played really good, they shared the ball, defensively I thought we did a really good job, we made them earn everything.”
