Suns’ Booker, Brooks rip refs after Game 2 loss to Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY — Add the Phoenix Suns to the record of groups which have publicly complained about officiating after a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight through and through,” Suns star Devin Booker mentioned after a 120-107 loss in Wednesday’s Game 2 that gave the defending champion Thunder a 2-0 collection lead. “It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start watching this as a WWE if they’re not held responsible.
“It simply feels disrespectful. I do know I have not gained a championship on this league, however I’ve been in it for 11 years now. So to get to this level to be handled like that, for me to even be saying one thing out loud, it is dangerous.”
Booker expressed displeasure with the officiating in general and was disturbed in particular with a technical foul called against him with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter.
Phoenix forward Dillon Brooks had a extra widespread grievance, taking umbrage with whistles that benefited Oklahoma City’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 37 points, shooting 13-of-25 from the floor and 9-of-9 from the free throw line. His nine free throws matched his average for the regular season, which ranked third in the league behind the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Luka Doncic and Portland Trail Blazers‘ Deni Avdija.
“[Gilgeous-Alexander is] a little bit frail, and that is what the refs are going to name,” said Brooks, who scored 30 points before fouling out with 25.3 seconds remaining. “I bought to be smarter about it, however that is the playoffs. It’s a person’s sport.
“Like, I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing or whoever else, when Luguentz Dortanother member of the Canadian national team, that resulted in double technical fouls being called with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter.
“That’s simply the kind of man he’s, the kind of competitor he’s,” Dort said. “You bought to respect it. The techs, I do not know why I bought a tech. I bought pushed. But it’s what it’s. I imply, I used to be concerned in it, however hopefully I can get with the crew and the [players’ association] and all that to get it rescinded. But he is only a competitor. That’s the kind of vitality he brings to the sport, so that you simply bought to respect him.”
Booker said he never received an explanation for why he was given a technical. It was called by referee JB DeRosa after Booker, who appeared to prevent an out-of-bounds infraction, threw a pass that hit Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams. Williams was called for a foul on the play for bumping Booker, knocking him out of bounds.
Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso lobbied for Booker to receive a technical before it was called.
“It’s undoubtedly one thing that has to be appeared into,” Booker said.
Booker was well aware that his criticism of the officials would put him in a jeopardy of being fined by the league office, a price he considered worth paying.
“This is my first time in 11 years, but it surely’s wanted,” Booker said. “Whatever I get fined for it, everybody can pull the clips and see the place the frustration is from.”
