Lakers guard Austin Reaves explained the heated altercation he had with an referee during the team’s Game 2 loss.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves was in the mix of it all and it mainly stemmed from the officiating, who Reaves had several run-ins with, including one heated altercation where he took disrespect to one of the referees allegedly yelling at him during the game.
"I felt like I was respectful to all of them all night," Reaves said postgame. "A million times in the past, I've said way worse stuff. And when we were doing the whole tip ball and they were switching spots, I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side, was just trying to keep an advantage. And he turned around and yelled in my face.
"I just thought it was disrespectful," he added. "The whole time that was going on over there, I don't think he said much to them. I know Ben 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've gotten a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn't get a tech was because he knew he was in the wrong.
I felt disrespected.
"Reaves and several other Lakers players did something fairly unusual following the game, meeting with officials on the court afterward towith how the game was officiated. Reaves was at the center of the discussion, and the interaction quickly went viral online. Despite the loss, Reaves led all scorers with 31 points.
However, the Lakers continue to struggle generating enough offense without Luka Doncic, and that lack of firepower showed late in both Game 1 and Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Los Angeles even carried a one-point lead into halftime in Game 2, but Oklahoma City once again pulled away in the second half.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Austin Reaves' GF Jenna Barber Gives Much-Needed Support Before Lakers-Thunder GameLos Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves will have at least one person cheering for him against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Read more »
Austin Reaves Gave the Refs a Stern Talking to After Game 2 Loss to ThunderLos Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves lectured officials after his team’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2.
Read more »
Angry Lakers surround refs in heated scene after playoff loss: 'Yelled in my face'The game had just ended and Austin Reaves made a straight beeline for referee John Goble.
Read more »
'That's what we need': Austin Reaves bounces back in Lakers' Game 2 lossAfter a subpar Game 1 effort against the Thunder, Reaves has a 31-point performance on Thursday, which coach JJ Redick said is needed.
Read more »