The Los Angeles Lakers need wins more than ever. With superstar guards Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined, tonight’s nationally televised game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was supposed to be a chance for LA to push through, but now, it seems like they’ve been stuck in a hole. It all becomes clear from one sequence.

With about 8:30 to go in the fourth quarter, while Thunder guard Alex Caruso knocked down a free throw, Isaiah Hartenstein stepped into the lane, pulling Lakers center Deandre Ayton with him, prompting an odd call from the refs. Instead of calling a lane violation on Hartenstein and giving the ball to the Lakers, the refs instead called a dual lane violation, meaning the possession would be decided with a jump ball.

In the aftermath of this call, multiple Lakers were furious. James and Marcus Smart approached crew chief Josh Tiven, trying to appeal to him and explain what happened, while JJ Redick was seen angry on the sideline. This was just one of many calls that went sideways for the Lakers, and even the broadcasting crew on Peacock seemed to notice.

“It’s going to be a lane violation,” commentator Ian Eagle stated. “But they got the wrong one. I think Hartenstein is the first one… He’s the one that initiated that. And he got Ayton to go early with him.”

This was just one moment of many in a game filled with contentious calls, a pattern that seemingly follows the Thunder, as well as their star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Just earlier this season, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was ejected for stepping onto the court and calling out referees for blowing their whistles.

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“It’s so frustrating to play this team because they foul a ton,” Finch told reporters during a previous OKC matchup. “They foul all the time. And then you can’t really touch Shai. It’s a very frustrating thing.”

Fans Turn on the Officials as Lakers-Thunder Whistle Dominates the Conversation

Social media erupted almost immediately as the game between the Lakers and the Thunder continued. Large sections of NBA twitter zeroed in on the officiating, with accusations flying in from multiple corners.

“You cannot tell me these refs aren’t betting on this Lakers vs Thunder game. This is disgusting @NBA.”

Many felt that the flow of the game was completely hijacked by the whistles, pointing to the six free throw disparity between the two teams. The momentum felt stalled, and it wasn’t subtle.

Another section went even further, calling out the Thunder as being the beneficiaries of a different standard altogether.

“refs not even trying to call the game fair… lu dort deada– the worst fouler in the league… the thunder get away with everything and still shooting 30 free throws no sga surely.”

This particular rant highlights that Dort’s physical defense repeatedly crosses the line, but that he gets the benefit of the doubt, forcing other teams to play from behind emotionally as well as on the scoreboard.

The backlash didn’t stop there, though. Some fans flipped the script, turning their frustration towards the Lakers.

“Lakers shouldn’t be allowed to cry this much. Every f—ing call doesn’t warrant tears.”

This sentiment reflects the long-standing belief that LA gets preferential treatment from refs, and when things don’t go their way, they complain until calls change. For these viewers, the outrage felt performative.

Others zoomed out and blamed the broader state of NBA officiating instead of picking sides.

“I hate the refs for okc & lakers games mfs missing clear calls.”

What is clear is that for many, officiating took away from what should’ve been a marquee nationally televised game, with discourse devolving into whistles, a familiar pattern with high-profile teams like the Lakers and the defending champion Thunder.