Suns players denounce officiating after Game 2 loss to Thunder
suns-players-denounce-officiating-after-game-2-loss-to-thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY, Apr. 23, 2026 — Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and forward Dillon Brooks blasted the officiating crew following Wednesday’s 120-107 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a result that pushed the defending champions to a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.
Booker, an 11-year veteran, singled out crew chief James Williams.
“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James was terrible tonight through and through,” Booker said postgame. “It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as WWE if they’re not held responsible.”
The All-Star’s frustration peaked after a technical foul assessed with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter. Booker said he never received an explanation for the call, which came moments after he threw an in-bounds pass that struck Thunder forward Jaylin Williams; Williams was whistled for a foul on the same sequence.
Brooks directed his ire at fouls he believed favored Oklahoma City’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The guard finished with a game-high 37 points on 13-of-25 shooting and went 9-for-9 at the free throw line, matching his regular-season average.
“He’s a little frail, and that’s what the refs are going to call,” said Brooks, who scored 30 points before fouling out with 25.3 seconds left. “This is the playoffs. It’s a man’s game. … Don’t decide the games on free throws.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who attempted 17 free throws in Oklahoma City’s Game 1 blowout, dismissed the criticism. “I can’t control what Dillon or anybody else on the other side is going to complain about,” he said. “All I can do is try to win basketball games for my team.”
The two Canadians exchanged words several times. After blocking Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot, Brooks celebrated; on the next possession, Gilgeous-Alexander buried a pull-up jumper with 4:55 left in the second quarter and gestured back at Brooks. Later, following Brooks’ fifth foul with 3:02 remaining, the forward motioned a flopping signal toward Williams while Gilgeous-Alexander lay on the court.
Brooks also received a double technical alongside Thunder swingman Luguentz Dort—another Canadian national teammate—at the 8:15 mark of the third quarter.
Despite anticipating a league fine, Booker said speaking out was necessary. “Whatever I get fined for it, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration is from,” he said.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Phoenix.
Source: ESPN.com
