Devin Booker ejected, Phoenix Suns still top defending champion Los Angeles Lakers

The Phoenix Suns didn’t have their best player for the game’s final 19 minutes, 10 seconds.

Didn’t matter.

Their All-Star point guard only took four shots from the field and their starting center only played 25 minutes.

That didn’t matter, either.

The Suns still took down the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, 114-104, Tuesday night at STAPLES Center in a nationally-televised game on TNT.

“I think it’s a very big win for us,” Suns big Dario Saric said. “Maybe was like kind of I would say maybe our most important game for us right now.” 

The Suns (23-11) are now second in the West behind only the Utah Jazz (27-8), who have the NBA’s best record.

“We know we can do big things if we just keep getting better and keep going,” Suns wing Mikal Bridges said as Phoenix has the NBA’s second-best record. 

The Suns were able to prevail Tuesday despite All-Star Devin Booker being ejected after picking up back-to-back technical fouls with 7:10 left in the third quarter.

“I didn’t need (an explanation),” said Suns coach Monty Williams when asked what explanation did he get from the referees about Booker’s ejection.

Phoenix led 70-63 at the time of the ejection.

“I didn’t get (an explanation) because we had to move on and that’s what we have to do in those moments,” William continued. “I saw talking, I saw back and forth and to be honest with you, I didn’t need an explanation. For us to be the team that we need to be, can be, we’ve got to be able to handle those moments even when they don’t go our way. And that’s what I had to do.”

The NBA provided an explanation on Booker’s two technical fouls, saying the first one was for “continually complaining” and the second one came for “directing profane language at a game official.”

Referee Tyler Ford called the first technical and while Booker was verbally taking issue with the call, referee Justin Van Duyne called the second technical. 

“Devin was disputing his first technical,” Suns forward Jae Crowder said as he was right in the middle of the situation. “He didn’t like the first technical that was given to him and he voiced his opinion about it. The back ref, the second ref, heard him voice his opinion and decided to give him another one. That’s what really happened.”

Mar 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley (10) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

 (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

LeBron James was right there as well, but said he was focused on the game.

“I don’t know what was said out on the floor,” James said. “You always want to compete against the best. You don’t ever want to see anyone get ejected, but I have no idea what was said on the floor.” 

Without Booker, the Suns outscored the Lakers, 44-41, in closing out the Lakers and finish their three-game road trip unbeaten.

“We rallied together,” Bridges said. “We wasn’t worried, we wasn’t nervous. We knew what we we do and that’s just go out there and keep playing our way. We know we had to do it for him. He’s in there. I know he’s cheering for us. So lock in for the rest of the game and do it for our teammates.” 

Paul wasn’t aggressive offensively and Ayton didn’t play in the fourth quarter, but the Suns managed to top the Lakers in improving to 15-3 in their last 18 games.

“I honestly felt today we got better,” Crowder said. “I came in the locker room and I told the guys that. Devin left us in the third quarter and we could’ve folded or we could step up to the challenge and we decided to step up to the challenge.” 

Mar 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) reacts after being fouled by the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

 (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

The Lakers (24-12) were without All-Star Anthony Davis (calf strain), Kyle Kuzma (heel) and Marc Gasol (NBA health and safety protocols), but still had James.

The game’s best player finished with a game-high 38 points, but it wasn’t enough.

“Even though we’ve been preparing all season knowing the COVID rules and COVID and things of that nature, you could be hit with some spontaneous, guess guys being out very rapidly and things of that nature, but it’s always tough,” James said. “Especially like we played so well the last two games, we’re getting back into a rhythm and then we find out today two of our big guns are out.”

James was making reference to Kuzma and Gasol as Davis has missed now eight straight games with the calf strain. The Lakers won their previous two over Portland and Golden State before falling to the Suns.

“It’s definitely deflating, especially when we were playing poorly and then you get a good rhythm and then you’re hit with that stuff so it definitely hurts our ballclub,” James added as the Lakers had lost four straight before beating the Blazers and Warriors. 

Phoenix used a balanced scoring attack (five players in double figures) led by Saric scoring a season-high 21 off the bench.

“Our bench came up big tonight,” said Williams as Phoenix scored 38 bench points while the Lakers only had 27 bench points.

Mar 2, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric (20) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley (10) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

 (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Bridges scored 19 points, Booker and Ayton each finished with 17 and Crowder added 15 in getting the start over Frank Kaminsky III, who didn’t play.

Crowder, Bridges and Cam Johnson combined to connect on 10-of-16 shots from 3 as the Suns went a collective 16-of-29 on 3s.

“They were making a lot of tough 3s, man,” Lakers forward Markieff Morris said. “A lot of wide open 3s that we don’t really give up like that.” 

As for Booker’s ejection, a deeper look shows his boiling over began when getting called for a foul trying to strip Dennis Schroder on the drive with 7:19 left in the third quarter.

It was just Booker’s second foul, but he took issue with that call.

With the Lakers still in possession, Booker reacted to Ayton being whistled for a foul trying to defending James on a drive to the basket.

Booker headed right toward Ford, who gave him the first technical foul.

Then as Ford was walking to the scores table, Booker must have directed “profane language” at him that led to Van Duyne to call the second technical foul.

Booker then was calmly escorted off the court by Suns director of security Max Cayard.

More: Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker named Western Conference Player of the Month for first time

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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