The breaks came off the chains with the newly built Intuit Dome welcoming NBA basketball for the first time. The Phoenix Suns and the Clippers led a thrilling surge, forcing overtime in the arena’s debut game. However, a part of the event’s glamor was stolen by whistles. No, not those of the infamous ‘Wall’, but the officials’ ruling didn’t sit well with NBA fans. Unfortunately, while for them it was fury, for Devin Booker, it resulted in agony.

The bombastic Suns scorer, coming off an Olympic campaign tried to unleash his defensive assets when playing their opening game. However, the referees are different. Hence, fouls began stacking quickly. In the fourth quarter, right before overtime, a slight push on an oversized Ivica Zubac saw him earn a sixth foul and take an early rest. The game though was far from over.

Booker went to the bench smiling, but Phoenix lost an offensive perfectionist that set the fourth on fire. Combined with Durant, they added 21 points in the period to pull the game back from the trenches. But then with the game inching close, the Slim Reaper went into his element, nailing a tough mid-range jumper to send the game to overtime.

In the following period, even without the pressure Booker got, the Suns managed to offset the Clippers. The home team piled on turnovers, while the visitors got trips to the line. Bradley Beal, an unsung hero added 24, including 7 in OT. Kevin Durant and James Harden’s vintage face-off though took the spotlights. The Suns’ headliner added 25 whereas the Beard’s 29-point double-double gave the Clippers some hope, who play an undisclosed time without their ace, Kawhi Leonard.

NBA fans berate officials over Devin Booker horror

Without much question, the NBA community has regularly expressed their discontent when referees control the tempo of the game. Tonight was something like that. The early fouling out of Devin Booker struck a nerve with some of the fans. “Fouling out Devin Booker on opening night national TV for hand checking with a Center on a switch is a disgrace to NBA officiating,” an enraged fan shared.

That play in particular did have some contact, but can be deemed necessary considering Booker is seven inches shorter than the big Clippers center. Furthermore, he wasn’t the only one who got the whistle blown against him for cheap. Eventually, even Zubac fouled out, but to be fair to the officials, his last was justified. But the resentment set in quite early in the night. It intensified since it was a scathing superstar such as Devin Booker, who rarely gets in foul trouble. A fan noted the absurdity of the same by recalling “That’s the first time Devin Booker has fouled out in a regular season game since November 22nd, 2022,”. 

Defensively, Booker lent his full focus on polishing his usage as an on-ball hound alluding to his duties in Paris. If one asks Steve Kerr, his view of Book is transformational, far from what the refs saw tonight. “He’s probably the guy who has been the most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here,” the Warriors HC said about the Suns guard.

The agony among fans continued for more reasons. The opening encounter was among the games nationally televised. Having one of the premier stars sit out overtime due to fouling out didn’t seem right for business. “Giving Devin Booker his 6th foul on that play is everything wrong with NBA officiating,” a fan shared.

Thankfully for the Suns, they managed to escape a blistering second-half fightback from the Los Angeles Clippers. Playing against ‘The Wall’ took its toll on Kevin Durant and Co. at one point. But toward the end, when composure was required, the Suns managed to convert every free throw in overtime despite being hovered by the army of Clippers fans.