Booker: Officiating in loss to OKC 'bad for the integrity' of NBA

Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker was extremely critical of the officiating following Wednesday's 120-107 Game 2 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James (Williams) was terrible tonight, through and through," Booker told reporters, per Cameron Cox of 12 News Arizona.

"It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE, you know, if they're not held responsible."

Booker appeared agitated by two incidents during the game.

The five-time All-Star was called for an offensive foul at the 2:31 mark of the second quarter for an "unnatural shooting motion" that appeared to make contact with Thunder forward Alex Caruso. Booker sought an explanation from referees when the Suns were called for a similar foul on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the next play.

"(The officials) said 'unnatural shooting motion' that hit Caruso," Booker said. "But Caruso is moving forward on that. And if that's unnatural shooting motion compared to what guys are doing to get fouls nowadays - like, you can play them side by side. And you know, I'll let you guys be the judge.

"Like, pull the clips, run it back. I'm surprised this is happening on national TV in playoff games."

Booker was then assessed a technical foul with 2:05 left in the third quarter when an attempt to save the ball from flying out of bounds struck Thunder center Jaylin Williams. The officials didn't immediately call the foul, instead waiting to do so until after a crowd formed around referee JB DeRosa. Caruso asked officials to call a tech on Booker.

"It's definitely something that has to be looked into," Booker said. "I heard Caruso tell him to call the tech and, you know, he ended up doing it."

Booker added, "It just feels disrespectful. I haven't won a championship in this league, but you know, I have been in it for 11 years now. So to get to this point, to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud, it's bad."

Booker recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists on 7-of-14 shooting as the Suns fell behind 2-0 to the defending champion Thunder. The two-time All-NBA selection says this is the first time he's complained about the quality of officiating in the league.

"It's my first time in 11 years," Booker said. "But it's needed. Like I said, whatever I get fined for, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration comes from."

Booker's teammate Dillon Brooks also took umbrage with the number of fouls called in favor of his Canadian international teammate Gilgeous-Alexander.

"(Gilgeous-Alexander is) a little frail, and that's what the refs are going to call," Brooks told reporters, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "I got to be smarter about it, but this is the playoffs. It's a man's game. ...

"This is physical basketball. I don't get why all the dropping and the falling and the flopping and the flailing and all this stuff is allowed when we get to the playoffs. Leave that for the (regular) season for the fans."

When asked about Brooks' remarks, Gilgeous-Alexander said, "I can't control what Dillon or anybody else on the other side is going to complain about."