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.
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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.
