NBA fans slam ‘disrespectful’ Thunder as OKC stars walk off live TV interview with TNT’s Allie LaForce after playoff win
OKLAHOMA City Thunder stars have been slammed by NBA fans for walking off a postgame interview with TNT Sports sideline reporter Allie LaForce.
The Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 106-85 in Saturday's Game 3 to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round NBA Playoffs series.
After the game, LaForce, 35, tried to speak with a group of OKC stars to discuss the result.
But as she started to ask her first question, they appeared to be pulled away for a chat with Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo of Bally Sports.
"Why do we have to wait?" LaForce asked while still on the air.
"I follow the group with these knuckleheads."
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LaForce then walked by the huddle of Thunder players gathered around Gallo.
"I'm doing some investigating right now," she said.
"I don't know what's happening."
TNT Sports play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan eventually ended the segment with the network needing to switch to the soon-to-begin matchup between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
"Allie, you know what? Let them have their conf there," Harlan said.
"They're talking with their home TV and that's good for them."
NBA fans didn't appreciate OKC ditching a national TV interview in such a manner.
"Y’all ain’t have to do LaForce like that! Damn," one posted on X.
"Nah what did the Thunder team do to Allie LaForce??? That was mad disrespectful," another added.
"Wtf are the Thunder doing with their group interview? That was pretty disrespectful how they did Allie LaForce," a third said.
Thunder-Pelicans 1st-round NBA Playoff series (OKC leads 3-0):
Game 1: Pelicans 92-94 Thunder
Game 2: Pelicans 92-124 Thunder
Game 3: Thunder 106-85 Pelicans
Game 4: Monday, April 29
"They just did Allie LaForce dirty," one wrote.
LaForce finally got a chance to talk with the Thunder.
TNT aired her interview during a quick Inside the NBA postgame hit.
Shai Gilegous-Alexander led OKC in scoring, finishing Game 3 with 22 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and four steals.
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Jalen Williams and Josh Giddy each added 22 points in a dominant display against the Pelicans.
The Thunder, who are the youngest-ever team to clinch a No. 1 seed in the NBA Playoffs, will have the opportunity to sweep NOLA in Monday's Game 4.