While some Suns’ players and coach Frank Vogel were quick to point out the controversial timeout call at the end of the Suns’ 106-103 loss to the Lakers postgame, Kevin Durant did not want to blame the loss on that play.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Here is how the controversial sequence unfolded: Durant had just cut the deficit to two on a nice layup. Both Devin Booker and Durant had five fouls, and they did not a good job of trapping not fouling Austin Reaves on the ensuing Lakers’ inbound. Reaves coughed up the ball, but LeBron James appeared to be granted a timeout while it was loose with seven seconds remaining. Grayson Allen would have had an easy layup had the timeout not been awarded.
The ball was DEFINITELY loose. I don't see how the referees grant a timeout here. pic.twitter.com/ZlaxGXpCx6
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 6, 2023
Durant, who finished with 31 points on 71% shooting, has been around the league long enough (17 years) to recognize one call doesn’t affect the outcome.
“That’s not the game,” Durant said. “That’s one play. It was a 48-minute game. I don’t like complaining about calls. Sometimes the ref isn’t going to get it right all the time. Sometimes it’s on us to play through all of that stuff and not worry about putting the game in the refs’ hands. It is what it is. We can’t put ourselves in that position.”
(Video credits to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin)
"That's not the game. That's one play. It was a 48-minute game. I don't like complaining about calls. Sometimes the ref isn't going to get it right all the time. Sometimes it's on us to play through all of that stuff."
Kevin Durant on Austin Reaves play at end of #Suns loss. pic.twitter.com/lqyNe5lqfK
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 6, 2023
He also realizes that the Suns turning the ball over 20 times and the Lakers shooting 27 more shots total is not a winning recipe at all.
"We held them under 40% shooting (37.3%) the whole game, great defense, but they got 20 more shots up than us. We're going to lose every time."
Kevin Durant as #Lakers 102 FGAs to #Suns 75, grabbed 21 offensive boards that led to 19 pts and scored 25 pts off 22 Phoenix turnovers pic.twitter.com/Bh1Wlfn11C
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 6, 2023
The Suns and Durant are now 0-3 against the Lakers this season.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
