Report: Blazers Opt Not to File Protest with NBA Over Ending of Thunder Loss

zach bacharContributor IJanuary 26, 2024

Alika Jenner/Getty Images

The Portland Trail Blazers are deciding not to protest the team’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Per Wojnarowski, the Trail Blazers are “confident that they communicated their frustration to the league office about the final moments of the game” and will let the 48-hour deadline to officially protest expire.

Portland was reportedly intending to file one following the close loss, as head coach Chauncey Billups was ejected after his attempt to call a timeout late in the fourth quarter wasn’t seen.

With the Trail Blazers leading by one point and less than 20 seconds remaining in the game, Billups attempted to call a timeout as point guard Malcolm Brodgon got trapped. The official didn’t see his signal before Brogdon double dribbled as he attempted to break free, giving Oklahoma City the ball back.

Billups was furious that the timeout wasn’t granted, picking up two technical fouls in quick succession as he was ejected from the game.

Yahoo Sports @YahooSportsPortland is filing a protest to challenge the result of 111-109 loss to OKC, per @wojespn.

Chauncey Billups was trying to call timeout, but wasn’t granted one. Billups was given two techs and ejected.

(via @BallySportsOK)

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The Thunder hit one of the two technical free throws to tie the score at 109 apiece before Jalen Williams connected on a game-winning pull-up jumper.

“We’ve got timeouts,” Billups told reporters after the game, per Wojnarowski. “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, it appears that the Trail Blazers won’t be pursuing an official protest. A team must pay $10,000 to file one, and the money is only refunded if it ends up being successful. It doesn’t seem as though Portland’s executives are interested in seeing if NBA commissioner Adam Silver was willing to uphold the protest and resume the game.

The Trail Blazers responded well in their following contest, an impressive 137-131 victory over the Houston Rockets in overtime on Wednesday.