They say timing is everything in sports…both good and bad. Oklahoma City experienced the bad on Thursday night when a foul against point guard Dennis Schroeder was ruled a Flagrant 1.
The Thunder had lulled themselves to sleep only to wake up suddenly in a fight. A loss would be snap their two-game winning streak and drop them from third in the playoff seeding to fifth. A win would continue their momentum build leading up to a crucial meeting with Golden State on Saturday.
OKC was in the midst for fending off a furious rally by the Pacers. Having watched an 18-point lead dwindle to just three the Thunder were looking for answers. Then it happened. A foul called on Schroeder, against Domantas Sabonis, was changed to a Flagrant 1 after being reviewed. Sabonis drilled both free throws to pull the Pacers to within one and on the ensuing possession Bojan Bogdanovic fed Myles Turner for the slam that put Indiana in front.
After the game NBA referee Scott Foster met with a pool reporter to explain the decision to grade the foul as a Flagrant 1.
Of course just about everyone in Thunder Nation disagreed with the ruling but that was no consolation in a loss that should have, could have, would have, honestly needed to be a win.