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Despite a contest that had already been decided well before the final buzzer, Devin Booker sparked controversy, pointing the finger at the officiating crew, with particular focus on James Williams.

The controversial play came during a hustle attempt to save possession: Booker, mid-air and just before stepping out of bounds, bounced the ball off defender Jaylin Williams – a classic move, often the only option in that situation.

The officials’ decision raised eyebrows: a technical foul was called, deemed consistent with an earlier whistle against the OKC Thunder big man’s defense, but difficult to accept given the context and dynamics of the play.

After the game, Booker didn’t hold back, calling the incident unacceptable and expanding the discussion beyond a single possession, directly questioning the NBA’s integrity.

According to the Suns guard, the talent and creativity of today’s offensive players make contact situations harder to officiate, but a call like that risks setting a dangerous precedentfar from the spirit of the game.

What unfolded is the first real controversy of these NBA Playoffsand it’s likely to spark debate in the coming days. The question now is simple: does it end here, or is this just the beginning? Because when the postseason takes this turn, it doesn’t take much to ignite new tensions.