All Chauncey Billups wanted was a timeout. What the Trail Blazers head coach received was a pair of technicals that helped swing Tuesday's game in favor of the Thunder.
Billups tried to call a timeout when Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon was pinned at the line with the ball by a pair of Thunder defenders with 15.1 seconds left in the fourth. Before the referee could see Billups was trying to call the timeout, Brogdon attempted to exit the double team and was called for a double dribble.
After the turnover, Billups chastised the officials for missing his attempt to call a timeout and was handed a technical foul. He continued onto the court to make his case and was handed a second technical, this one sending him out of the game.
Portland, which had been leading 109-108 at the time of the two technicals, wound up losing 111-109 to Oklahoma City.
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
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Immediately following the game, it was reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Portland would be filing a protest over the loss, saying that the missed timeout by the referees impacted the game.
Why the Trail Blazers are protesting game vs. Thunder
Portland believes it should have received a timeout before Brogdon's turnover. And footage of the play shows Billups did gesture for a timeout before Brogdon began his motion to dribble again.
As a result of the ensuing technical fouls on Billups, Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of two shots from the free-throw line to tie the game. And on the next possession, Jalen Williams drained an 18-foot jumper with 2.1 seconds left to win the game for the Thunder.
"We've got timeouts," Billups said after the game. "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."
If the Blazers had held onto the ball, they could have continued to drain the clock, leaving barely any time for the Thunder to attempt a game-winning shot. Portland also would have had a chance to extend its lead.
Crew chief Bill Kennedy said in a pool report Billups did not receive the timeout in part because it was "difficult" for the referee in the slot to hear or see the call while also keeping an eye on the double team.
"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," Kennedy said, per ESPN.
What is a protest in the NBA?
A protest in the NBA is an effort by a team to have a section of the game replayed because of incorrect rulings or other rules misapplications. Teams that file a protest have to pay $10,000, though they would receive that money back if the appeal is successful.
Teams have 48 hours to file a protest and five days for evidence to accompany the protest. The protest is then evaluated by the president of league operations and that office, with the NBA commissioner being the final voice on the protest.
If there is a successful protest, the portion of the game needed for the protest is replayed, typically being only a small portion of the game in the fourth quarter.
What NBA protests have been successful?
Eight games have been overturned due to a protest that resulted in a replay, according to NBA Hoops Online. Since 1982, however, just one protest has been successful.
In 2007, the Heat filed a protest for a game in which Shaquille O'Neal was ejected after officials said he reached six fouls. However, O'Neal had just five fouls, which meant he could have stayed in the game.
The final 51.3 seconds of overtime, which had started on Dec. 19, 2007, were replayed on March 8, 2008. By that point, though, O'Neal had been traded from Miami to Phoenix. The Heat originally lost the game 114-111, and wound up losing the replayed game by the same score.
Winners have only been changed after a protest three times in NBA history.
| Date | Replayed time | Original score | Final score |
| Nov. 28, 1952 | Final minutes | Hawks 78, Warriors 77 | Warriors 72, Hawks 69 |
| Nov. 6, 1969 | Overtime | Hawks 124, Bulls 122 | Hawks 142, Bulls 137 |
| Dec. 3, 1971 | 4 seconds | Braves 91, Cavaliers 90 | Braves 91, Cavaliers 90 |
| Jan. 14, 1973 | 60 seconds | Pacers 84, Spurs 83 | Spurs 95, Pacers 90 |
| Jan. 7, 1976 | 3 minutes | Squires 112, Nets 89 | Squires 107, Nets 100 |
| Nov. 8, 1978 | 5:50 of third quarter, all of fourth | 76ers 137, Nets 133 | 76ers 123, Nets 117 |
| Nov. 30, 1982 | 3 seconds | Lakers 137, Spurs 132 | Spurs 117, Lakers 114 |
| Dec. 19, 2007 | 51.3 seconds | Hawks 114, Heat 111 | Hawks 114, Heat 111 |
