Trailblazers File Protest After A Controversial Loss In Final Seconds

The Portland Trailblazers are filing a protest to the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver following a nail-biting 111-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

Many are shocked that the NBA Constitution still allows for official protests, given the significant technological advancements in the league through features such as the extensive replay review system.

As written in the NBA Constitution, “Upon receipt of a protest, the Commisioner shall at once notify the member operating the opposing team in the game protested and require both of said members within five (5) days to file with him such evidence as he may desire bearing upon the issue. The Commissioner shall decide the question raised within five (5) days after receipt of such evidence.”

The protest will also cost the Blazers $10,000 to file, but will be refunded if successful.

In this case, the evidence is clear. With less than 20 seconds left in the game, the Blazers had inbounded the ball with a 109-108 lead, and point guard Malcolm Brogdon faced a heavy-pressure double-team once he crossed half-court. The Blazers had two timeouts remaining, and head coach Chauncey Billups was quick to travel down the sideline and scream and gesture to call one of those timeouts, but referee Brandon Schwab had his back to Billups and no timeout was given.

Instead, Schwab called a double dribble on Brogdon, which resulted in a turnover and a double technical foul call on Billups, which saw him ejected from the game. Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of the two technical free throws, tying the game 109-109, giving the Thunder the ball on the final play of the game where Thunder forward Malcolm Brogdon hit a fading mid-range jumper to take the lead with two seconds remaining. The game ended 111-109.

“We’ve got timeouts,” Billups said postgame. “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.”

Portland dropped to 12-31 with the loss and the Thunder moved to 30-13 and first place in the West after the Timberwolves’ loss to the Hornets on Monday night.

The last protest to be upheld in the NBA was in 2007 when the Miami Heat recognized that their center, Shaquille O’Neal, was incorrectly ruled to have six fouls when he only had five. This would be the first one in 17 years.

The Blazers will look to bounce back against the Rockets and the Spurs this week, while the Thunder will move on to play the Spurs and Pelicans in their next two games.