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Portland's coach Chauncey Billups ejected late in Trail Blazers' loss to Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Portland coach Chauncey Billups was ejected with 15 seconds left in the Trail Blazers' 111-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
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Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, front left, is led off the court after being ejected during the final minute the team's NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Portland coach Chauncey Billups was ejected with 15 seconds left in the Trail Blazers' 111-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

The coach was upset that his player Malcolm Brogdon was called for a double-dribble violation as he was trying to call timeout. Billups received two technical fouls — the first for making contact twice with an official and the second for following and pursuing the official, according to a pool report interview.

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

ESPN, citing sources, said the Blazers would protest the outcome of the game. There has not been a successful protest in the NBA since 2008, when the final seconds of a Miami-Atlanta game had to be replayed because Shaquille O'Neal was erroneously marked down for a sixth foul.

By league rule, the Blazers have 48 hours to file a protest.

According to the report of crew chief Bill Kennedy, the official said Billups was not granted a timeout because the referee was focused on the play in front of him.

“The referee in the slot position was refereeing the double-team that was right in front of him, which makes it difficult for number one to hear and number two to see a coach request a timeout behind him," Kennedy said. “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.”

The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of two technical free throws to tie the score at 109-109, and Jalen Williams hit a shot with 2.1 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

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The Associated Press