“For game? Anything I say, I’m going to get fined up here, so. I got a lot to say, so I probably shouldn’t say nothing,” Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie said after his team suffered a close loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Up one with seconds remaining, Deni Avdija drove towards the basket and drew a foul from Russell Westbrook. Upon review, while there was some contact that occurred it seemed baffling to call that in the final moments of a close competition.
Avdija converted the free throws and helped the Blazers secure a 134-133 win over the visiting Kings. Coach Christie’s confusion was evident in is postgame comments. Surely he was far from the only one who held those feelings.
The Kings lost by one after the refs called this a foul on Russell Westbrook with 1.5 seconds left in OT 🤬 pic.twitter.com/4edvxsWGhV
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 19, 2025
Most expected that the day-after last two-minute report would say that it was an incorrect foul call on Westbrook, but it actually backed the call that was made in real time.
“Westbrook raises his right arm up into Avdija’s arm and initiates contact that affects his shot attempt,” the two-minute report read. “After communicating with the Replay Center, it was determined the foul occurred prior to the expiration of the game clock.”
In weird circumstances, the Kings fall to 6-21 on the season, owning one of the worst records in the NBA. Ironically, it may have been better for their future to lose that game but that doens’t minimize the surprise that came from the call in the moment.
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Deni Avdija made two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in overtime to cap a 35-point outing and give the Portland Trail Blazers a wild 134-133 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
DeMar DeRozan scored 14 of his 33 points in overtime for the Kings, and he knocked down a turnaround jumper with 4.4 seconds left to give Sacramento its only lead of the extra session.
Avdija was then fouled by Russell Westbrook and made the free throws to save the Trail Blazers, who blew a 15-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation.
Shaedon Sharpe added 26 points, Jerami Grant contributed 20 points and nine rebounds and Donovan Clingan had 19 points and eight boards for Portland, which has won two in a row. Toumani Camara added 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists before fouling out.
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Deni Avdija comes through at line as Kings fall to Blazers in OT
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Saturday, December 20th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, December 21st – vs. Houston Rockets – 7:00 PM PT
Tuesday, December 23rd vs. Detroit Pistons – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, December 27th – vs. Dallas Mavericks – 2:00 PM PT
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