The Oklahoman

Refs miss call on Rockets' costly turnover

- Joe Mussatto, Staff writer

A Houston turnover that set up Oklahoma City's biggest shot of Game 3 should've been called a foul against the Thunder, the NBA ruled Sunday in its last two minute report.

Rockets center P.J. Tucker in bounded the ball with Houston ahead 103-101 with 24 seconds left in the game. Tucker tried to pass the ball to Eric Gordon, who was fighting to break free from Thunder guard Dennis Schröder.

Both Gordon and Schröder fell to the court as the ball bounced out of bounds without anyone touching it.

The Thunder was given possession after review, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 14 seconds left. The Thunder went on to beat the Rockets 119-107 in overtime.

After review, the NBA ruled that Schrö der" wraps his right arm across the front of Gordon's body, which dislodges him during the inbound."

Houston s hould've been awarded one free throw and the ball.

"I hate to even talk about that, because as strong as I am, ain't nobody just gonna throw me to the ground in an instant like that," Gordon said Sunday. "Things happen but you've gotta move on. We shouldn't have put ourselves in that kind of situation."

It wasn't the only controvers­ial call late in the game.

In overtime, Chris Paul was called for an offensive foul when he pushed off against Rockets guard Ben McLemore. Paul caught McLemore with a shot below the belt.

The Thunder had already sealed the win, up 11 with 1:20 left, but Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni asked the referees to review the play for a possible flagrant foul.

"I wasn't clear, but I know my guy got hit in a bad place with an elbow, so go look at it," D'Antoni said after the game. "And if you're right, you're right. So be it."

There was no review.

"I tried to get by him," Paul said after the game. "It was incidental. I know when I did it on purpose. That was in college. It was a long time ago. I checked on Ben. He said he was fine.

"I know Mike. He gonna get mad, he gonna yell and scream. He got a (technical). We'll move on."

Game 5 tip time set

Tip-off for Game 5 has been set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on TNT and Fox Sports Oklahoma.

The Thunder and Rockets will play Game 4 at 3 p.m. Monday, as previously scheduled.

Houston leads the series 2-1.

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