Lakers star Austin Reaves said he felt disrespected by the officials during the team's Game 2 loss to the Thunder.
Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves addressed his heated interactions with officials after the team’s 125-107 Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
Reaves, who led the Lakers with 31 points and 6 assists, had heated exchanges with the referees both during and after the game. One of those moments came in the fourth quarter, when he confronted referee John Goble following a jump-ball situation.
"I felt like I was respectful to all of them all night. I mean, there's a million times in the past I've said way worse stuff," Reaves said postgame.
"And when we were doing the whole tip ball, when they were switching spots, I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side I was just trying to keep an advantage. And he turned around and just yelled at my face," he explained the moment with referee John Goble.
"I just thought it was disrespectful. The whole time that was going on over there, I don't think he said much to them. I don't think he stepped in and said something."
"But at the end of the day, we're grown men, and I just didn't feel like he needed to yell in my face like that. I told him that. I wasn't disrespectful."
"I told him if I did that to him first, I would have got a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn't get a tech is because he knew he was in the wrong," he concluded.
The series is now heading to Los Angeles, where the Lakers will try to protect their home court.
Game 3 will be played at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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