Late timeout ignored, Chauncey Billups ejected during Trail Blazers’ 111-109 loss at Oklahoma City Thunder

A clutch three. A jumper to answer. A timeout uncalled. Technical fouls. An ejection. Game-tying free throw. Another clutch jumper. A failed desperation lob pass.

All of that went down in the final 30 seconds of the Portland Trail Blazers 111-109 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But the sequence that ultimately mattered the most came with the Blazers up 109-108 and under 20 seconds remaining in the game. Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon found himself trapped by two defenders near the sideline after he crossed midcourt.

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, standing along the same sideline near halfcourt, called for a timeout but the officials did not grant him one. Brogdon, who also called for a timeout, ended up committing a double-dribble turnover with 15.6 seconds on the clock.

An upset Billups went up to the nearest official to argue his case and bumped into him. That led to a technical foul. Billups then continued to yell at the officials until he received a second technical foul and was ejected from the game.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of two free throws to tie the game at 109 each.

The Thunder then went to Jalen Williams who hit a jumper to give his team a 111-109 lead with 2.0 seconds on the clock.

The Blazers responded with Brogdon attempting a sideline in-bounds alley-oop pass to center Deandre Ayton at the rim that was intercepted by Gilgeous-Alexander.

The entire sequence left Billups frustrated following a loss in which his team played very well against one of the top teams in the Western Conference. A team the Blazes lost to by 62 on Jan. 11.

“We’re all frustrated,” Billups told reporters. “Malcolm should feel just as frustrated. He was trying to call a timeout as well. What else would you be trying to do in that situation? It’s a bang, bang, easy simple play. Coach is at half court out of my box, calling it.”

The Blazers had grabbed the lead late when Anfernee Simons his a deep three-pointer to put the Blazers up 109-108 with 28.9 seconds to go.

Seconds later, Williams hit a jumper to make the score 109-108 setting up the final moments.

Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 33 points. Scoot Henderson led the Blazers with 19 points off the bench. Brogdon and Jerami Grant each scored 18. Anfernee Simons had 17 with eight coming in the fourth quarter.

WHAT IT MEANS

It’s a shame that the Blazers (12-31) lost given how well they played against the Thunder (30-13), who have now won 11 straight games against the Blazers and many in blowout fashion.

“My guys played amazing,” Billups said. “They took the challenge. Came in here, saying all day that we needed to go demand some respect based on the way that we’ve played against this team.”

Billups said he told the team that they are either going to roll, or get rolled.

“And our guys, they rolled today,” Billups said. “They played really good. They shared the ball. Defensively, I thought we did a really good job. We made them earn everything today, and I was proud of my team.”

NEXT UP

The Blazers play at 5 p.m., Thursday at the Houston Rockets.

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-- Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)

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