Booker’s skirmish with Doncic, Irving highlights Suns win over Mavs
Luka Doncic’s blown layup with three seconds remaining solely heightened the dramatics of Sunday’s Phoenix Suns-Dallas Mavericks recreation.
Down two, the Mavericks star missed point-blank on the rim within the last seconds. Phoenix’s Kevin Durant secured the rebound, and Doncic was compelled to foul him.
That’s when issues received spicy.
Suns star Devin Booker appeared to start chirping in Doncic’s course, and the Mavs star took exception, instantly leaping into Booker’s face.
Both gamers obtained a technical foul for his or her actions and the Suns held on to win 130-126.
Once the sport ended, the opposite half of the Mavs’ dynamic duo Kyrie Irving additionally had phrases for Booker.
After the sport, Booker stated he wasn’t going to “tattletale” concerning the second, however stated he was really speaking to the ref as a result of he thought Doncic received away with a push-off earlier than his missed layup.
He additionally appeared to embrace the back-and-forth between the 2.
“You guys [in the media] always say you don’t want everyone to be ‘friendly-friendly,’ so there you go — you got some smoke,” Booker stated.
According to reporters at the game, Doncic informed Booker to “shut the [expletive] up” and Doncic disagreed that Booker wasn’t chatting with him, saying, “Based on the words, I don’t think so.” He additionally took one other shot at Booker.
“It’s a competitive game,” Doncic stated. “It’s all good. Next time, just don’t wait until there’s three seconds left to talk.”
Sunday wasn’t the primary time that there is been a notable back-and-forth between Doncic and Booker.
In their Western Conference semifinal matchup final spring, Booker was heard on a fan’s video saying “the Luka special” after he exaggerated contact following a foul. Following the Suns’ Game 5 win in that collection, Doncic stated, “Everybody acts tough when they’re up” as he was leaving the court.
Doncic and the Mavericks received the final snort in that collection, successful Game 7 by 33 factors.
Booker did not deny that a few of Sunday’s back-and-forth traced again to the playoffs final season. However, he downplayed any notion that he dislikes Doncic.
“It’s just two competitors going at it,” Booker stated. ” … I have no problem with Luka on or off the court. But when we’re competing, we’re competing.”
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