The Los Angeles Lakers eliminating the Phoenix Suns from the NBA In-Season Tournament with a 106-103 victory yesterday did not come up without controversy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Here is how the controversial sequence unfolded: Kevin 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
Today, the league’s last two-minute report confirmed the correct call was made on the timeout. Plenty of neutral fans and even other NBA players expressed confusion with the call yesterday.
“LAL is granted a timeout when Reaves (LAL) recovers the ball and pins it against his leg, before he loses it again,” the report details.
#NBA L2M Report stays consistent with this answer
“LAL is granted a timeout when Reaves (LAL) recovers the ball and pins it against his leg, before he loses it again.”
Also says that it was a correct no-call that Booker did not foul Reaves when he lost the ball https://t.co/L8zhUw6FEu pic.twitter.com/45bEnKbakf
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) December 6, 2023
The only incorrect calls it mentions are three fouls that should have been called against Phoenix.
The three mentioned instances are: Allen on Reaves at 1:34, Durant on James at 44 seconds and Jusuf Nurkić on Anthony Davis at 43 seconds. Click here to see the full report.
Yesterday, the game’s crew chief, Josh Tiven, said almost the same exact thing about the call.
Tonight’s #Suns vs. #Lakers crew chief Josh Tiven affirms that the officials made the right call on the timeout with seven seconds left, as “Austin Reaves had his left hand on the ball while it’s pinned against his left leg, which does constitute control.” pic.twitter.com/Gcq0wvTaAp
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) December 6, 2023
The Suns are now 0-3 against the Lakers this season. They will next play the Kings at home at 7 p.m. MST on Friday.
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
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
