----- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 33 points and 10 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder edge the Portland Trail Blazers 111-109 Tuesday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Trail Blazers get robbed in Oklahoma City!
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 33 points and 10 assists and Jalen Williams added 19 points including the game-winning bucket with 2.1 seconds remaining as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-109 Tuesday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
The real drama came with less than a minute to play in the game.
Anfernee Simons nailed a three-pointer with 30.1 seconds on the clock giving Portland a 109-106 lead. Williams responded with a bucket for OKC cutting the Blazers lead to one-point at 109-108 with 15.6 seconds remaining.
On the Blazers next possession they turned it over when Malcolm Brogdon was called for a double-dribble. The call infuriated Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who picked up two technical fouls and was ejected. The replay clearly showed Billups calling for a timeout before Brogdon was tied-up.
“We’re all frustrated,” Billups told reporters. “Malcolm should feel just as frustrated. He was trying to call a timeout as well. What else would you be trying to do in that situation? It’s a bang, bang, easy simple play. Coach is at half court out of my box, calling it.”
The questionable officiating put a damper on what was a well-played game by the Blazers, who had lost their previous two meetings with the Thunder this year by an average of 52.5 points.
Portland (12-31) trailed 38-28 at the end of the first, but took control of the game outscoring the Thunder 38-20 in the second quarter. Scoot Henderson scored a team-high 19 points and dished out seven assists.
Simons finished with 18 points and seven assists and Jerami Grant scored 18 points and pulled down five rebounds. Jabari Walker recorded another double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers travel to Houston to meet the Rockets Wednesday evening. The game is scheduled to tip off at 5:00 PM.
Chad's Take- The NBA Officials should be forced to meet the the media after each game and take questions in hopes of increasing accountability.