OKLAHOMA CITY — Austin Reaves turned in a postseason-best 31 points on May 7, yet frustration with the officiating became the dominant storyline in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-118 Game 2 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
The incident occurred in the final minutes when a jump ball left both teams scrambling for position. As players shifted around the circle, Reaves tried to switch sides to match an opposing player. He said referee John Goble responded by yelling at him, sparking a heated exchange captured on the game broadcast.
“I felt like I’d been respectful all night,” Reaves told reporters afterward. “I’ve said worse things a million times. He turned around and yelled in my face, and I thought it was disrespectful. If I’d done that to him, I would have gotten a tech. The only reason I didn’t get one is because he knew he was in the wrong.”
The third-year guard, who shot 10-for-16 and added two rebounds and six assists, rarely shows visible anger on the court. He said fellow official Ben Taylor stepped between them but that Goble did not address Thunder players in the same manner.
Head coach JJ Redick and LeBron James also voiced displeasure with several calls throughout the night. Despite the complaints, the Thunder capitalized on the disputed jump ball, racing downcourt for a Cason Wallace three-pointer that pushed their lead to eight and forced a Lakers timeout.
The loss places Los Angeles in a 2-0 hole as the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal shifts to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 on Saturday. Reaves struggled in Game 1, going 3-for-16 for eight points with four turnovers; his Game 2 resurgence is considered critical to the Lakers’ hopes of climbing back into the series.
Source: LakersNation
