Grasping onto any last-second hopes, the Indiana Pacers had their hopes destroyed. The Oklahoma City Thunder managed to call a timeout before an unforced error cracked the door open at the end of their double-overtime win.
After Obi Toppin cut the Thunder’s lead to 139-135 with 22.5 seconds left in 2OT, it looked like Toppin stole an inbounds pass, ala TJ McConnell in the 2025 NBA Finals. That would’ve given the Pacers possession in a four-point deficit.
Still a long shot, but a shot nonetheless. Instead, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was granted a timeout. The Pacers and Rick Carlisle were irate. They managed to inbound the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made both free-throw attempts to get up to a career-best 55 points and seal the deal.
For a second straight game, the Thunder needed 2OTs to beat their opponent. And for the second straight game, a Pool Report was required. The officiating crew explained why OKC was given a game-saving timeout as it looked like it was on its way to a turnover.
A reporter asked Crew Chef Josh Tiven: “Why were the Thunder granted a timeout negating Obi Toppin’s steal with 22.5 seconds to go in double overtime? Where and when was the timeout requested and acknowledged by the official?”
Tiven responded: “Daigneault was near the midcourt line in close proximity to the official and verbally requested that timeout prior to the release of the throw in.”
Seems like a pretty open-and-shut case. Once the timeout was granted, nothing could change. Let’s see what the L2M Report has to say about the Thunder winning another nail-biter that took 58 minutes to play out instead of the standard 48.