The Lakers are going to Las Vegas for the NBA in-season tournament semifinals after defeating the Suns, 106–103, in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
However, a controversial call in the final seconds left NBA fans asking if Phoenix was robbed of a chance to tie or win the game.
The Lakers were given a timeout with 7.4 seconds remaining, though it appeared that Austin Reaves had lost possession of the ball near their basket. As Reaves was trapped by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, LeBron James called timeout and the referees allowed it despite Reaves’s apparent turnover.
Following the game, crew chief Josh Tiven explained why the Lakers were given the timeout.
“During live play, the official felt that LA still had possession of the ball when LeBron James requested the timeout,” he said. “Through postgame video review in slow motion replay, we did see that Austin Reaves had his left hand on the ball while it’s pinned against his left leg, which does constitute control.”
Lakers got this timeout call on what seemed to be a loose ball 👀 pic.twitter.com/j1xdODEgNo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 6, 2023
That explanation didn’t satisfy Suns coach Frank Vogel, who believed the call should have been reviewed.
“I know it’s not a foul or an out of bounds, which is, like, a challenge,” Vogel said in his postgame presser. “But at any point in the game, if the whistle blows, inadvertently, the refs can huddle up and say, ‘Inadvertent whistle, where are we at during the game?’ That did not happen.”
NBA fans couldn’t believe that the Lakers were allowed the timeout, despite that call not directly affecting the outcome of the game. Here’s a sampling of the reaction on social media:
"The whole world seen it." 👀
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 6, 2023
-Devin Booker on Lakers timeout call pic.twitter.com/5LUnMOMdlJ
Ball is clearly loose. MASSIVE missed call there
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) December 6, 2023
It was a loose ball. The NBA wants LeBron in Vegas for the $$$.
— TheRightGuy (@TheRightGuy101) December 6, 2023
One of the WORST calls of the season, no question
— Tyler Conrad (@tylerjconrad) December 6, 2023
I've lost all respect sorry this is absolutely rigged for money.. Or ratings im not sure which. I won't be silent. Just saw it live sry.
— ✭ Jazz ✭ (@jazzlynn626) December 6, 2023
Nope. The ball is loose and no lakers players has the ball in possession, refs with another horrible call which is not a surprise these days
— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) December 6, 2023
No way a lakers fan could even defend this.
— Sunny (@sunnymaanz) December 6, 2023
With the win, the Lakers advance to the in-season tournament semifinals and will play the Pelicans on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on TNT.
