NBA gave Clippers coach Doc Rivers the option to let McCollum play. He declined

As reported by Oregon Live, the Blazers were fighting for McCollum to play. They sought a rules clarification from the NBA and disputed the timing of the incident. Don Vaden, the NBA's director of officials, was at the game and mediated the situation with both teams.

In the end, according to a league source, the NBA gave Clippers coach Doc Rivers the option to let McCollum play. He declined.

About 30 minutes before tipoff, the Clippers' coaching staff was noticeably animated outside the visiting locker room. When asked why after the game, Rivers said they were trying to get a handle on McCollum's playing status.

"We were trying to figure out what the heck," Rivers said. "We knew you couldn't change the rule, because it happened to us. But it's not on us to do that. That's all on them."

Turns out, Rivers has made a similar mistake with his active roster twice over the last two seasons. 

CJ McCollum and Doc Rivers postgame pic.twitter.com/kUE2bCtgbD

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) 7 Gennaio 2016