Report: Blazers Planning to Formally Challenge Loss vs. Thunder Due to Missed Timeout

The Portland Trail Blazers lost Tuesday's game to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they reportedly aren't accepting that result without a fight.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Portland filed an official protest with the NBA office to challenge the 111-109 defeat.

The end of the game was chaotic as Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups appeared to call timeout with his team nursing a 109-108 lead in the final seconds. Yet officials called Malcolm Brogdon for a double-dribble turnover with 15 seconds remaining instead.

Billups vehemently protested and was given two technical fouls and ejected. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made one of the ensuing two free throws to tie it, and Jalen Williams then hit what proved to be the game-winning jumper for the Thunder.

Yet the Trail Blazers filed the protest because they believe Billups was calling timeout before the double-dribble call that led to the game-changing sequence.

"We've got timeouts," the head coach told reporters. "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."

The ending somewhat overshadowed an excellent performance from Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 33 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and five steals.

As for Portland, it was another difficult result in what is turning into a lost season.

It fell to 12-31 on the campaign and an ugly 5-19 on the road. Only the 8-35 San Antonio Spurs have a worse record in the Western Conference, and the team is clearly in the early stages of a rebuilding process.

Next up for the Trail Blazers is another road game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.