Rockets’ Mike D’Antoni becomes first coach to use challenge in NBA preseason game

The preseason matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets in Honolulu on Thursday not only offered a look at two teams with revamped star duos, but also a glimpse at a new twist for the 2019-20 NBA season: challenges. 

With 2:02 remaining in the second quarter, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni challenged an offensive foul called against James Harden, marking the first invocation of a rule installed by the NBA this offseason. 

In his post-game explanation, D’Antoni said he was not sure the call was wrong when he signaled for the challenge, but figured his team had nothing to lose since it was already in the bonus and could gain free throw attempts as a result. 

“It’s going to be a little adjusting,” he said, per ESPN. “It takes a while to get used to. We don’t have the regular flow of information that we’ll have in a regular game. They’ll tell me before that I should go out there and challenge.”

Los Angeles Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers, left, and Houston Rockets’ head coach Mike D’Antoni talk on the sidelines during the second quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game, Thursday, Oct 3, 2019, in Honolulu. (Photo: Marco Garcia, AP)

Houston outlasted Los Angeles, 109-96, and D’Antoni beat Clippers coach Doc Rivers on the draw. The two coaches joked about the challenge during the game from their respective benches. 

“We were going to have a contest,” Rivers said. “Mike won. I forgot about it, to be honest.”

Coaches are permitted one challenge per game, regardless if the call is upheld or overturned. Both Rivers and D’Antoni said their respective teams’ analytics departments have encouraged them to use challenges as they see fit.

“It’s going to be something that is going to take a little bit for us to get used to and when to use it,” Rivers said. “My guess is we are going to use it first half, if it’s one of your better players that you think didn’t commit a foul, you may use it to make sure he gets the foul back. Analytically they said we should use it anytime, which I don’t agree with that. We’ll see how it goes.”

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