The Toronto Raptors saw their impressive 11-game winning streak snapped in a heated home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a game filled with late drama, three key Raptors—head coach Dwane Casey, DeMar DeRozan, and Serge Ibaka—were all ejected after disputing multiple calls by the referees. The franchise later confirmed they plan to submit an official written protest to the league regarding the game’s officiating. For fans of Bangla Cricket Live, who are no strangers to the emotional swings of competitive sport, the Raptors’ frustrations are easy to relate to.
The controversy centered around a sequence in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter. DeRozan, attacking the basket, believed he was clearly fouled by Corey Brewer on a missed layup. No foul was called, and the Thunder maintained possession. The no-call infuriated DeRozan, who later told reporters, “He wasn’t even going for the ball—he just went straight at my body. That was a clear foul.” The incident sparked a chain reaction of frustration among the Raptors’ players and coaching staff.
With just eight seconds left, the Raptors attempted to inbound the ball, and in the ensuing scramble, Brewer dove for a loose ball and secured it while lying on the court. DeRozan attempted to force a jump ball, but officials instead called a personal foul against him. The Raptors guard reacted with visible frustration, drawing two technical fouls in quick succession and getting ejected. Shortly afterward, Coach Casey and Ibaka were also tossed for continuing to argue the call.
After reviewing game footage, Coach Casey stated that the team would file a formal protest with the NBA. “We understand that officials can miss calls. But at key moments in a game, especially one this close, we have to get those decisions right—not just for us, but for the integrity of the league,” Casey said. “This isn’t about just one night. It’s happening around the league.”
That said, Casey also acknowledged the Raptors had made their fair share of mistakes. “We missed too many open looks, layups, and free throws. We turned the ball over too often. We shot ourselves in the foot,” he admitted, suggesting the loss wasn’t solely on the officials.
DeRozan, however, wasn’t entirely on the same page. When asked if he felt the Raptors were treated fairly, he responded, “No. We’re used to fighting through adversity. That’s nothing new. But the moment we say something, we become the villains. We get criticized. We get punished.” When asked directly whether he believed the officials cost them the game, DeRozan didn’t hesitate: “To us, it was obvious.”
He added, “We go out every night and try to fight through everything. And still, we manage to gain an edge. But tonight felt like a breaking point. It’s frustrating—everyone saw what happened.”
For basketball fans and Bangla Cricket Live followers alike, this episode is a reminder that even the best teams can find themselves at odds with forces beyond their control. As the Raptors regroup, their protest may not change the outcome, but it might light a fire for the games ahead.