Overview
- Devin Booker blasted the officiating after Wednesday's 120-107 loss, naming referee James Williams over a third‑quarter technical and saying the calls hurt the sport's integrity.
- The NBA penalized Booker $35,000 for public criticism but also voided the technical from the play where he tried to save the ball and it struck Jaylin Williams, a rare split decision.
- Dillon Brooks echoed the complaints, calling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “a little frail,” decrying flopping, and urging that referees face postgame questions after he fouled out in the fourth.
- Free throws remain central to the dispute, with Gilgeous-Alexander going 9-for-9 in Game 2 after taking 17 attempts in Game 1, reinforcing a season-long pattern of drawing contact.
- Suns owner Mat Ishbia publicly backed Booker as the series shifts to Phoenix with Oklahoma City up 2-0 and Game 3 set for Saturday, raising pressure on both the team and the whistle.