Devin Booker reacts to controversial officiating in Suns’ narrow defeat
The Phoenix Suns found themselves in a heated debate over officiating following a heartbreaking 124-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. The pivotal moment that sparked frustration came with seven minutes remaining when Zaccharie Risacher hit the floor hard after a dunk.
Contentious Call Shakes Up Momentum
As Phoenix aimed to capitalize on a five-on-four advantage, the officials halted play with Risacher still down on the opposite end of the court. This decision infuriated the Suns, who felt their momentum was stifled. The tension escalated, leading to a technical foul assessed on the team.
After the game, Devin Booker voiced his discontent. “I hope he’s OK, but the situation is they can’t call that play dead when we have advantage numbers,” he stated. “I’ve never seen it happen before and then give a tech for us calling it out. It’s a compound mistake by the refs and they just have to be better.”
Teammate Dillon Brooks, who received the technical foul, expressed his frustration more passionately. “You want to call a t [technical foul] and change another play, giving them two extra points when it’s not even their ball. That needs to get reviewed. Someone needs to get penalized – sh– I got penalized for calling them out,” Brooks said. “I don’t get that – at least wait until they foul or something. If that’s a serious play then hold it right there and then. That’s outrageous.”
Suns Look to Regroup After Emotional Defeat
The loss marked the end of the Suns’ five-game winning streak and came as a shock, especially considering they had led by as many as 22 points during the game. In the wake of such an emotional rollercoaster, the Suns must focus on moving forward.
“The game’s never over. The quicker we can regroup after the commotion of whatever the situation was that happened, the better for the team,” Booker emphasized to reporters post-game.
Despite the disappointment, the Suns are looking ahead. They allowed a staggering 47 points in the fourth quarter and struggled to find their shooting rhythm early on. With a record of 8-6, Phoenix’s next challenge lies against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Although Jalen Green will be sidelined, there is optimism surrounding the potential return of forward Grayson Allen, who is recovering from a quad contusion.
As the Suns prepare for their next game, they need to channel the lessons learned from this tough loss and turn the page quickly.
