Devin Booker blasts refs after loss to Thunder: ‘People are going to start viewing this as WWE’

Suns star Devin Booker blasted NBA officiating following Phoenix’s Game 2 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

Booker criticized NBA official James Williams’ officiating in the game, saying that he called a terrible game.

“It’s definitely something that has to be looked at. I heard (Alex) Caruso tell them to call the tech, and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight, through and through,” Booker said.

“It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they’re not held responsible.”

 

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One of the calls Booker was heavily critical of postgame was in the third quarter when Booker was fouled by Jaylin Williams while going out of bounds in an attempt to save the ball, which partially struck Williams, as the whistle blew. As Booker was heading to the free-throw line due to the Thunder being over the foul limit, officials discussed the action and gave Booker a technical foul, which confused Suns players and even ESPN commentators Dave Pasch and Doris Burke.

Booker said postgame he hadn’t gotten an explanation for the tech. Head coach Jordan Ott said postgame he also didn’t get an explanation for the call.

Jordan Ott said he didn’t receive an explanation from officials for the technical foul Devin Booker received in the third quarter in Game 2 against the Thunder. pic.twitter.com/jh6al2ObQG

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) April 23, 2026

Booker finished the game with 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists in the loss. However, Booker had six of the Suns’ 22 turnovers during the game.

Dillon Brooks gets chippy with Team Canada teammates in Game 2

Booker wasn’t the only player to receive a technical foul during Wednesday’s game. Dillon Brooks and former Sun Devil Luguentz Dort each received technical fouls following an exchange.

Following a Chet Holmgren free throw to make it 75-63 Thunder, Brooks, a teammate of Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Canada’s men’s national basketball team, made contact with Dort while trying to get the ball and put it into play. Play was paused briefly as officials assessed offsetting technical fouls on both players.

Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort get called for double techs.pic.twitter.com/6ixmOALae6

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 23, 2026

Brooks, who led the Suns with 30 points in Wednesday’s loss, received 17 technical fouls during the regular season and was suspended for one game in February after receiving his 16th technical foul.

Dortz wasn’t the only Canadian teammate of Brooks he went back and forth with in Wednesday’s game, as Gilgeous-Alexander pointed at Brooks after making a jump-shot over him in the second quarter. Gilegous-Alexander led the Thunder with 37 points.

Following the loss, the Suns, down 0-2 in the first-round playoff series, return to Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix for Game 3 on Saturday. Tip-off is at 12:30 p.m.

Catch the game on 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com. 

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