Phoenix Suns Star Devin Booker Stunned by Egregiously Blown Call That Led to Lakers Win: ‘The Whole World Seen It’

Ahmad Austin Jr.Dec 6th, 2023, 12:02 pm
 

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker said it was “obvious” that the referees blew a late-game call that led to the team’s elimination from the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament.

The Suns took on the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the in-season tournament quarterfinals. Toward the end of the fourth quarter, the Suns trailed 105-103. Lakers star LeBron James inbounded the ball to Austin Reaves, and Reaves was quickly trapped by Booker and forward Kevin Durant.

The defensive pressure caused Reaves to lose the ball. As players ran after the loose ball, a referee suddenly blew a whistle. According to the ref, the Lakers called a timeout before Reaves lost the ball.

Subsequent replays, however, showed the timeout was given to the Lakers well after the Reaves lost the ball. A team cannot call a timeout during a loose ball.

Naturally, the Suns were furious with the call. Had the play not been blown dead, they would have had the opportunity to tie the game or even take the lead with a 3-pointer.

A visibly frustrated Booker said after the game that everyone knew it was a bad call.

“The whole world seen it,” Booker said when asked to break down the play. “I just got off social media and other players around the league seen it, so it is what it is. Refs miss calls sometimes, but when they’re a bit that obvious, it’s tough.”

Booker then seemed to imply that his team expected to be given less favorable calls since they were playing the Lakers.

“When they put so much anticipation on the game, we’re not asking for favoritism, just a fair chance,” Booker continued. “And even before the game, in pregame huddles as a team, we’d come in and be like, ‘We understand what type of game this is gonna be. Just keep playing all the way through it.’

“(We) continue to play (an) uphill battle the whole time. To have it unfold like that’s tough.”

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