Trail Blazers Protesting Loss to Thunder Over ‘Frustrating’ Moment Between Chauncey Billups and the Refs

The Portland coach says he was trying to call timeout and the officials did not see him.

The Portland Trail Blazers filed a protest with the NBA over the results of Tuesday night’s 111–109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

At issue for the Blazers is coach Chauncey Billups attempting to call a timeout with a 109–108 lead and Malcolm Brogdon trapped by two Oklahoma City defenders. Brogdon was eventually called for a double dribble and turned the ball over with 15.1 seconds remaining in the game. 

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Billups confronted the officials for not granting him a timeout and walked onto the court to argue. He was called for two technical fouls and ejected from the game. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of two free throws to tie the score at 109–109 and on the subsequent possession, Jalen Williams hit a jump shot with 2.1 seconds left for the victory. 

“I’m at halfcourt trying to call a timeout,” Billups told reporters afterward, including The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress. “It’s just a frustrating play. My guys played too hard for that.”

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

Crew chief Bill Kennedy explained to a pool reporter that the referee did not see or hear Billups attempt to call a timeout because he was focused on the play that was happening.

“The referee in the slot position was refereeing the double-team that was right in front of him, which makes it difficult for, No. 1, to hear and, No. 2, to see a coach request a timeout behind him,” Kennedy said, via Wojnarowski. “He is taught to referee the play until completion, which a double dribble happens, and he correctly calls the double dribble and then pursuant [to that] the technical fouls come forward.”

Portland’s chances of having its protest upheld by the NBA aren’t good. Only six protests have been validated in league history and none since December 2007.