The NBA in-season tournament has added a lot of what the league hoped it would bring to the early regular-season schedule: stakes, eyeballs and a general sense that this season is different than seasons past.
It also has invited something traditionally reserved for April and May: officiating controversy, and more specifically officiating controversy surrounding the Lakers.
Much has been made of a controversial timeout Los Angeles was granted late in its 106–103 win over the Suns in Tuesday’s in-season tournament quarterfinal—which Lakers forward LeBron James appeared to have called while the ball was loose. The NBA’s report on the game’s final two minutes upheld the call, which Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkić dryly disagreed with Thursday afternoon.
“That was the best officiating game of the season,” Nurkić told reporters, smiling all the while. “When I fell asleep, that helped me to realize that I was wrong and they was right.”
"That was the best officiating game of the season."
Jusuf Nurkic on Suns-Lakers Tuesday night.
Smile incoming. #Suns pic.twitter.com/0a27DGoURX
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 7, 2023
Nurkić, averaging 27.9 minutes per game this year, put up three points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes Tuesday.
With the win, Los Angeles advanced to the tournament semifinals against the Pelicans. That matchup is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET Thursday in Las Vegas.
