The Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns squared off in the quarterfinals of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. The contest the Lakers eventually won 106-103, however, not without some late-game controversy.
Related:LeBron James and the Lakers come up short in Game 2
As the Suns trailed 105-103 late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers appeared to have gotten some help from the refs when it was granted a timeout during a loose ball situation. With 11.2 seconds on the clock, LeBron James inbounded the ball to Lakers guard, Austin Reaves, who momentarily lost control of the ball after a Suns trap. The Lakers were consequently awarded a timeout, which drew the ire of Suns players, coaches, and fans.
Suns head coach, Frank Vogel was asked his thoughts on the call after the game, and he let his frustrations known to the NBA world.
“It’s a loose ball and you can’t call a timeout on a loose ball,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said post-game, via ESPN. “The whistle blows. I don’t know why. Everything in the league is reviewable. I don’t know why that can’t be reviewable. … We got the trap, we got the turnover, [and the] damn whistle blows. It’s just frustrating.”
Phoenix guard Devin Booker would also express his displeasure with the call in post-game interviews.
“If you do not have the ball you cannot call a time-out. We do no want favoritism. We just want a fair chance to win.”
Anthony Davis would go on to make one of two free throws after the timeout, and Kevin Durant would miss a three-pointer as time expired. With this win, the Lakers advance to the In-Season Tournament Semi-finals in Las Vegas, and will play the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday, Dec 7.
