Devin Booker # 1 of the Phoenix Suns scores on a lay-up above Dennis Schroder # 17 of the Los Angeles Lakers as LeBron James # 23 and Markieff Morris # 88 watch during the second quarter at Staples Center on March 2, 2021 in Los Angeles. California. (Photo by Harry How / Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers played a highly competitive basketball game on Tuesday night. It was fun to watch and there was a high level game on one half.
Unfortunately, the game reached a point in the second half when the referees decided they had had enough.
Shortly after both the Lakers’ LeBron James and Frank Vogel got technicals in the third quarter, Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker was ejected after getting two of his own.
At this point it was unclear what exactly was happening.
TNT’s broadcast revealed that Booker suffered a technical foul and then left the floor. Word soon followed that Booker had been ejected, to the surprise of the commentary team who watched the game in a different location and everyone.
After a commercial break, TNT found the video showing Booker receiving two back-to-back techniques. The former seemed mundane enough, with Booker expressing frustration with the officials’ job. Booker then threw a bounce pass to an umpire and then quickly got his second technical game.
It is not clear whether Booker was thrown for the pass anymore or what he said. Anyway, for a close game played at a high level to eject a star player like that, this is extremely problematic and bad for the game.
The referees speak to a pool reporter after the game to discuss the ejection.
Booker was the best player on the floor in purple before being kicked out. He finished the evening with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, three rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Despite Booker’s ejection being a clear point where the game’s momentum could shift, the Suns continued to trudge and beat the Lakers 114-104.