A critical offensive foul on Grayson Allen gave the Memphis Grizzlies a lifeline. Ja Morant set up his rookie teammate Jaylen Wells to extend the lead to three in overtime. That would be enough to take down a scoring virtuoso from the Suns’ ‘Big 3′. Devin Booker, Durant, and Bradley Beal combined for 78 points. However, according to Book, Memphis had another member on their team – the referees.
Following the painful loss, Phoenix’s fourth in the last five games, Booker didn’t hold back during his postgame press conference. The Suns’ charismatic guard even risked the possibility of getting fined $25,000. But he felt the game consisted of officiating inconsistencies all around. “I think a poorly officiated game throughout tonight,” said the Suns’ all-time leading scorer.
In terms of fouls, the disparity wasn’t large. The Grizzlies went to the line 30 times, only three more than the Suns. For a team playing at home, opposing coaches would regard it to be a healthy exchange. Yet, what irked D-Book was how the whistle operated. He saw some actions that were identical but had different judgments from the referees.
“I still think we had opportunities to win the game. Makes it hurt that much worse, but I think a poorly officiated game throughout tonight.”
Devin Booker as he fouled out with 2:49 left in regulation of Suns OT loss to Memphis.
“Just the inconsistency. Not saying one thing is… https://t.co/9CYIQ5ZUgV
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 26, 2025
“Just the inconsistency. Not saying one thing is a foul or the other, but if it’s a foul on the other end, you just keep it consistent,” the Suns’ All-Star guard said about the loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Devin Booker was found to sense some injustice. He couldn’t be present during the overtime period to help the Suns as he fouled out with close to three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. At the same time though, the Grizzlies too were subtracted from their prime offensive threat. Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out in the closing minutes of regulation, leaving the game to Ja Morant and Co.
And even through their early blur in overtime, Memphis managed to recover improving to 38-20 for the season.
The Suns had multiple opportunities to win the game tonight. Particularly, Grayson Allen’s explosion in the fourth quarter allowed the Suns to have the lead for the most part of the game. However, the Grizzlies’ Morant kept attacking. 23 of his 29 points came in the second half and he was also responsible for forcing Booker to make defensive errors.
It was largely his effort that paved the way for Memphis. Ja Morant hit a three to much-needed triple to bring the game to within one. And after Allen missed a clutch free-throw, all the Grizzlies’ magnetic guard needed was a lane. With 1.7 seconds remaining, Morant hit the floater to send the game to OT.
However, the big names weren’t the only ones who deserved to have their praises sung.
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