In a heated post-game interview, Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel expressed his disappointment with the referees' decision to award a timeout to the Los Angeles Lakers, despite it appearing that they did not have possession of the ball. The controversial call came late in the game and had significant implications for both teams.

Vogel argued that the timeout should not have been granted, stating, "It's a loose ball and the ball's out, and you can't call a timeout on a loose ball... can't do it." The Suns coach cited the league's ability to review various plays and called for the reviewability of such situations involving inadvertent whistles.

The frustration stemmed from an incident where Lakers star LeBron James requested a timeout. Upon reviewing slow motion replay, the officials determined that Lakers rookie Austin Reaves had his left hand on the ball, pinned against his left leg, which constituted control. Still photos from another angle further showed Reaves with two hands firmly holding the ball to his leg.

However, it is worth noting that this sequence occurred after Reaves had lost possession of the ball, picked up his dribble, attempted to regain control, and then picked up his dribble again. The time Reaves held the ball after the second gather was a split second, raising questions about what exactly constitutes possession.

The fact that the Suns were even in a close game against the Lakers was surprising. Phoenix shot an impressive 49% from the field compared to the Lakers' 37%. According to NBA reporter Justin Russo, teams that shoot at least 49% while holding their opponents to 37.5% or less have an outstanding record of.994. The Lakers' poor shooting performance was their worst since 2016, as mentioned during the TNT broadcast.

However, the Suns' 20 turnovers, 21 offensive rebounds allowed, and 27 fewer shot attempts offset their shooting advantage, leading to a tightly contested game.

Despite the controversial call, Suns forward Kevin Durant urged his team to not dwell on the referee's decisions, stating, "That's not the game. I don't like to complain about calls." Durant took charge in the game, leading the Suns with an impressive 31 points.

As the game concluded with the Lakers edging out the Suns, questions remain whether the controversial timeout could have potentially altered the final outcome. Fans and pundits alike eagerly await the release of the two-minute report, which will shed further light on the officials' decision-making process.

While frustrations remain high, both teams must now shift their focus to their next games as the NBA season continues to unfold.