NBA Referees Under Fire After Nuggets-Thunder Game

And as the action unfolded, Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to get to the line became a bit too impressive for those observing the game. He tallied 40 points on 15-for-32 shooting, plus 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

While the game was a blowout in the end (127-103), it was close for most of the contest, a three-point game with just over nine minutes to play.

That helped bring into focus one of the narratives that has developed around the Thunder, and particularly Gilgeous-Alexander--that they get far more friendly whistles from the refs than they deserve.  One play that drew special ire from NBA observers was a call on Russell Westbrook in which SGA leaned into him, more focused on drawing a foul than taking a shot. 

As Vic Lombardi of Altitude Sports noted, "This is not a foul. This is stupid. This is foul baiting."

Other media observers pointed out a non-call against the Thunder in which Westbrook drove into the paint and got raked in the face by center Chet Holmgren of OKC. But the referees swallowed their whistles on that play, opting not to give Holmgren his sixth foul. 

Malone was whistled for a technical foul thanks to his outraged reaction to that play. 

This is in line, again, with a growing narrative on Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, one that was fueled two weeks ago by Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who was angered by the referees' handling of OKC. 

"It's so frustrating to play this team because they foul a ton. They really do. They foul, they foul all the time," Finch said. "And then you can't really touch Shai. It's a very frustrating thing, and it takes a lot of mental toughness to play through it."