Sources -- Blazers to protest loss to Thunder after 'frustrating' play - ESPN

The Portland Trail Blazers are filing a protest with the NBA to challenge the result of a 111-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, sources told ESPN.

The Blazers are contending that coach Chauncey Billups — with a 109-108 lead — was clearly calling a timeout on the sideline before a referee whistled a double-dribble on guard Malcolm Brogdon with 15.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter in Oklahoma City.

In response, Billups reacted angrily to what he believed was a failure to honor his timeout request. He was accessed two technical fouls — including a second after marching onto the floor to argue — and ejected in the final seconds of the game.

«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.»

According to a pool report interview, crew chief Bill Kennedy said Billups was not granted a timeout because the referee was focused on the play in front of him, making it «difficult» for him to hear and see Billups' request.

«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 to secure the victory. Portland