LeBron James and the Lakers clinched a hard-fought 106–103 victory against Kevin Durant and the Suns on Tuesday night, securing their spot in the semifinals of the NBA’s in-season tournament. However, the triumph was not without its share of controversy and contentious moments.

In the critical final seconds of the game, the Lakers found themselves in a decisive position, but the controversy arose when the referees granted Los Angeles a timeout, even though it was unclear if Austin Reaves had full possession of the ball. The questionable call raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the accuracy of the decision.

Adding to the drama, Reggie Miller, providing commentary for TNT, actively questioned the referees’ rationale behind awarding the Lakers a timeout, emphasizing the significant uncertainty surrounding possession at that crucial juncture. The controversial call has since become a focal point of discussions surrounding the Lakers’ hard-fought victory and their journey into the NBA’s in-season tournament semifinals.

Lakers got this timeout call on what seemed to be a loose ball” 

 

Kevin Durant was asked about it after the game and he handled it with pure class: 

“That’s not the game. That’s one play. It was a 48-minute game. I don’t like complaining about calls. Sometimes the ref isn’t going to get it right all the time. Sometimes it’s on us to play through all of that stuff.”