Considering the way Game Three in the first-round series between the Trail Blazers and Thunder played out, the expectation among many was that Game Four Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena would be a rowdy and contentious affair.
Between Russell Westbrook's “rocking the baby” routine, Dennis Schroder mocking Damian Lillard’s “Dame Time” wrist tap, Paul George going for a highlight reel dunk in the last seconds of a game already decided, the number of fouls called and the disparity in free throw attempts, Moe Harkless being ejected for throwing his headband into the crowd after fouling out and players having to be separated after exchanging verbal barbs at mid-court after the final buzzer in Oklahoma City’s 120-108 victory in Game Three, there was ample reason to believe the trash talk and histrionics would boil over in Game Four, and with unpredictable results.