The Los Angeles Lakers have voiced their frustration with the officiating after losing 125-107 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The loss puts the Lakers in a 2-0 series deficit. Lakers coach JJ Redick and guard Austin Reaves both criticised the refereeing after the game on Thursday night.
Reaves’ Disagreement With Referee
Following the game, several Lakers players gathered around the referees at midcourt. Austin Reaves voiced his frustration to crew chief John Goble. Reaves felt Goble crossed the line during a jump ball situation.
“At the end of the day, we’re grown men and I just didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that,” Reaves said. “I told him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would’ve gotten a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn’t get a tech was because he knew he was in the wrong. I felt disrespected.”
Reaves, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes each finished with five fouls. The Thunder took 26 free throws compared to the Lakers’ 21.
Redick on James’ Lack of Free Throws
Redick believes the Thunder, with the No 1 seed and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, shouldn’t get extra help from the officials. “They’re hard enough to play,” Redick said. “They’re hard to play, and you’ve got to be able to just call them. They foul. They do foul.”
LeBron James, despite his effectiveness at attacking the rim at age 41, has only attempted five free throws in the two games of the series. Redick said, “LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them,” Redick said. “They get clobbered, and he got clobbered again tonight a bunch.”
Composure vs. Complaints
Lakers players were visibly incredulous after certain calls and no-calls. The Thunder players remained calm, which Redick believes might have influenced the officiating. “I think some of the reason that they’re officiated the way they are is because they don’t show emotion,” Redick said. “And that’s a credit to them. I mean, they really take the emotion out of the game. They’re super tight-knit. They don’t complain to the officials, and maybe they’re the beneficiaries of that, I don’t know.”
Game Details
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points for the Thunder. Ajay Mitchell had 20 points and Jared McCain added 18 for the defending champion Thunder, who improved to 6-0 in the playoffs.
- Reaves scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting.
- James followed up his 27-point effort in Game 1 with 23 points.
- The Lakers were again without Luka Dončić, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring.
Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Sunday.