The Thunder play hard and play with physicality. But they won't lose by technical knockout

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The worst display of bad behavior, at least in the NBA's eyes, exhibited by Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season happened on Jan. 12.

Thunder teammate Alex Ducas made a 3-pointer with 2:55 left in a blowout win over Washington — the first points of his NBA career, a shot that happened right in front of the Oklahoma City bench. Gilgeous-Alexander jumped out of his seat in celebration and waved a towel. Problem was, the towel appeared to make contact with Washington's Jared Butler.

Oops. Technical foul.

That less-than-egregious crime was the only technical foul called on Gilgeous-Alexander this season — and Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Saturday that it wound up being rescinded, too.

For a team that embraces physicality on defense, scores a ton of points on offense and isn't afraid to commit fouls — it is averaging 20.2 per game this season when including the playoffs, the fifth-highest rate in the NBA going into Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night — the Thunder simply do not cross the line.

By the NBA's count, they have 18 technical fouls in the regular season and playoffs; that goes to 21 when adding in the NBA Cup championship game, which is considered an exhibition and doesn't go into the stats.

“First of all, I respect the officials. I think our team respects the officials,” Daigneault said. “We understand that it's an imperfect job. It’s not going to be perfect. They are trying to get it right. We really just try to focus on what we can control, not because of anything other than that’s the best pathway to play your best and it’s the best pathway to win. We have hopefully a culture of focusing on what we can control and blocking everything else out.”

Of the 18 technical fouls on the Thunder in the regular season and playoffs, only nine were for interactions with referees.

Gilgeous-Alexander almost didn't know how to react when he got the technical foul in Washington. In the first three years of his career, he got zero technicals. He had one in Year 4; it was eventually rescinded.

By Gilgeous-Alexander's standards, he's been on a wave of misbehavior in the three years since.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been hit with five technical fouls in the last three years — two in the 2022-23 regular season, two in last season's playoffs and then the towel wave that went awry this season. Over the last seven seasons, only Harrison Barnes and Jrue Holiday have played more minutes than Gilgeous-Alexander with fewer technicals.

“I was hotheaded as a kid,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “As I’ve grown, I’ve just understood that getting too high or getting too low, especially in competition, doesn’t really help me, for sure. So, I try to be as even-keeled as possible.”

The NBA said the Thunder have been called for three technicals in the playoffs, two by Isaiah Hartenstein and one by Chet Holmgren. Neither player had one during the regular season, and nobody on the Thunder had more than four.

“The way I see it, techs is points. I don’t ever want to give a team points because I can’t control my emotions,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “So, I control them. It’s that simple to me.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers players are separated by the referees during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers players are separated by the referees during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault argues a call with the referee during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and forward Jalen Williams (8) argue a call with the referee during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles police have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.

Reiner is long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work includes some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”

His role as Meathead in the 1970s TV classic “All in the Family” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker catapulted him to fame.

Reiner turned 78 in March.

Messages to his representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner has been married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.

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Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

FILE - Rob Reiner arrives at the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network's Respect Awards, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)