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OKC Thunder: NBA rules Dennis Schroder fouled Eric Gordon on inbounds turnover

Joe Mussatto
by Joe Mussatto
Published: Sun, August 23, 2020 1:52 PM Updated: Sun, August 23, 2020 2:40 PM

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 inbounded 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 Schroder. 

Both Gordon and Schroder 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 Schroder "wraps his right arm across the front of Gordon's body, which dislodges him during the inbound." 

Houston should'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." 

Related Photos
Aug 22, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Eric Gordon #10 stands over James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 22, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Eric Gordon #10 stands over James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo-USA...

<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-f313faafe59ce8faf0322d85ccf0467a.jpg" alt="Photo - Aug 22, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Eric Gordon #10 stands over James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports" title="Aug 22, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Eric Gordon #10 stands over James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports"><figcaption>Aug 22, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Eric Gordon #10 stands over James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
Joe Mussatto

Joe Mussatto joined The Oklahoman in August 2018 to cover OU football, men’s basketball and softball. He previously covered University of Kentucky football and basketball for SEC Country. Mussatto is from Oklahoma City and lives in Norman. Read more ›

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