The Phoenix Suns are staring down a 3-0 series deficit and growing frustration after a 121-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3. Another controversial moment involving an OKC player only added to that tension, echoing the bias claims from Game 2. Yet instead of lashing out, Devin Booker delivered his message with restraint, short answers, a flat tone, and calculated composure.

That approach followed the fallout from a $35,000 fine tied to his criticism of official James Williams in Game 2. Book addressed the league’s decision to rescind the technical foul that sparked the controversy while still penalizing his bank account. “I read it as, ‘You were right, but you can’t say anything about it,'” Booker remarked.

Booker, however, showed no remorse for the fine. Instead, he highlighted what he sees as a contradiction in the NBA’s decision. The league’s investigation admitted the technical foul was improperly assessed and didn’t give him a suspension, yet upheld the fine for Booker’s public “integrity of the sport” rant.

That frustration carried directly into Game 3, extending from postgame comments onto the court. Booker appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle after a controversial no-call involving Lu Dort. With nine minutes left in the third quarter, Dort appeared to stick his leg out, catching Booker’s foot and sending the Suns star hobbling to the locker room.

Addressing that trip, Book told the media, “I don’t know if it’s intentional or not. I seen he stuck his leg out a little bit. He threw his hand up to say that it was a foul, and it just wasn’t granted,” Booker said of the play.

When asked about his ankle after the loss, Booker kept it brief: “It’s fine.” While Booker returned and finished the game, the sequence led to a crucial turnover and a scoring swing that helped the Thunder pull away. Notably, this time he avoided calling out anyone directly. While Booker stayed measured, the criticism didn’t disappear; it shifted elsewhere.

Jordan Ott also called out officiating after Lu Dort tripped Devin Booker

Last time, it was Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia who went on a lengthy rant on X, backing Devin Booker. Today, while the guard kept his words measured, his head coach launched into his own criticism. Jordan Ott expressed disbelief over the no-call on the Dort trip, noting that even the defender seemed to acknowledge the foul.

“I thought I saw [Dort] raise his hand as a foul live… he puts his hand up, obviously indicating something occurred,” Ott told reporters. “For your best player to be out in these types of games, those are massive calls or swings.”

Even with the injury scare, Booker produced efficiently. He finished with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. But OKC’s depth and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-caliber precision proved too much for Phoenix. In fact, the bigger issue wasn’t officiating- it was OKC’s dominance.

While the Suns focused on the officiating, they had no answer for SGA, who delivered one of the most efficient scoring performances in postseason history. He erupted for 42 points on a staggering 15-of-18 shooting, becoming just the third player in history, joining Terry Porter and ironically, Devin Booker himself, to record 40+ points and 5+ assists while shooting over 80% from the field in a playoff game. His dominance at the Footprint Center has the defending champions one win away from a sweep.

Now the focus shifts to survival. The Suns face a must-win Game 4 on Monday, with Booker’s health and the team’s relationship with officials under scrutiny. However, Phoenix’s ongoing frustration with referees continues to overshadow their fight to stay in the playoffs.