The first day of the play-in tournament brought out all the raw emotions. While the Miami Heat was boiling in rage over LaMelo Ball over a no-call after fouling Bam Adebayo, the tension was also running high in Phoenix. The Suns are one step closer to elimination after a narrow 114-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, and while Devin Booker is being blamed, the narrative is actually split between Book’s accountability and Jalen Green’s frustration with the officiating.

Green’s point of contention was the officiating surrounding Portland’s breakout star, Deni Avdija, who delivered a career-defining performance. He racked up 41 points and 12 assists. However, it was Avdija’s constant presence in the paint that annoyed the Suns star. He was called to the free-throw line 13 times and converted eight of those shots in comparison to Green’s 5 of 6 clip from the charity stripe.

“Calling that same foul, they gotta call that both ways if they’re going to call it for one person all night,” Green remarked following the loss. “That’s my opinion.” His frustration also stems from the fourth quarter, when the Blazers overcame an 11-point deficit, largely fueled by Avdija’s ability to draw contact and convert a three-point play with 16 seconds left. But other key factors on Phoenix’s end also contributed to the final score.

Portland outpaced Phoenix on offense, making 17 three-pointers, while the Suns converted just nine triples on 25 attempts. Green addressed the perimeter gap and defensive rotations, but in the end, he circled back to the real reason why “everybody’s upset.” “It’s a game we should have won. But we know it’s important to shake that off next game mentality,” Green concluded.

Booker, who finished with 22 points, took a more internal approach. He was visibly frustrated by his execution in a four-point game. “Defensively, letting Deni get downhill, make plays, and score, and getting in our paint, and me missing five free throws,” Book said, taking responsibility for costing the Suns the 7th seed. Green led Phoenix, scoring 35 points, and left the arena with a bitter taste in his mouth. However, Booker pointed the finger at his own defensive lapses and uncharacteristic struggles.

Devin Booker is looking to correct the Phoenix Suns’ season-long problem, but is it possible?

The Suns appeared to be within reach of the playoffs when they had a 93-83 advantage. But behind the season’s leader in free throws, Deni Avdija, the Trail Blazers turned out to be unmatchable at the rim. Avdija finished 15 of 22 from the field, relentlessly attacking the basket and collapsing the Suns’ interior defense. Phoenix had no answer to his drives to the rim. Courtesy of their regular-season finish, they have another shot at the playoffs. But they will now have to face the winner of the Warriors-Clippers game. Devin Booker also spoke to the problem Jalen Green didn’t address: their tendency to collapse late.

Book had to admit, “That’s been the story of the end of our season so far. I think we just need to remain aggressive. I think we get a little lead and slow down. That’s not what got us the lead in the first place.” This has been a persistent theme of the Suns’ offensive struggles over the last two months. Opposing game plans are designed to isolate Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Green, emphasizing restricting off-ball movement. The same thing happened tonight after this trio combined for eight assists and eight turnovers. The Suns’ head coach, Jordan Ott, admitted there were “some windows we missed spraying the ball out.”

On the other hand, Brooks got a technical foul in the final stretch. While his regular-season limit has already been reset, it will reset again if the Suns advance to the playoffs. At this rate, though, he could run into a suspension at a crucial point later in the postseason, and that’d be the last thing Phoenix would want. The Suns also battled like hell on the glass to only lose second-chance points 15-12 versus a Portland team that led the league in that category.

Booker’s reflective mode might help the Suns recalibrate and salvage their season. Their chances now hinge on Friday, and the officiating might be the least of their worries if they don’t fix the habit of squandering leads.