'Total BS': Devin Booker ejected in first quarter of Suns-Pistons game after second technical

Devin Booker got an early start to the NBA All-Star break.

The Phoenix Suns four-time All-Star received two early technical fouls and was ejected in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons at Footprint Center.

"They just said they asked him to stop whatever his complaint was and they (gave Booker a technical foul) and then he said something else to the other official and they ran him out," Suns coach Frank Vogel said. "Just freaking ridiculous. It was total BS to take the star player out of the game. I've seen worse than what he did on a nightly basis. Not that, I've seen it before, I see it every night. Unprecedented."

Crew chief Karl Lane, Justin Van Duyne and J.T. Orr served as the three referees in Wednesday night's game the Suns won, 116-100, over the Detroit Pistons at Footprint Center.

"Those are good officials that were on the game tonight, but that was certainly uncalled for and BS."

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Booker did have words with the referees as he was walking toward the bench, but wasn’t nearly as demonstrative as he has been in talking with the referees in previous games.

Suns superstar Kevin Durant said he was surprised by the quick ejection, noting Booker was talking to him at the time.

"I guess he said something that ticked the ref off, but they were on edge before the game anyway because of the situation," Durant said.

Durant is referencing to an altercation between Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart and Suns big Drew Eubanks in which Stewart struck Eubanks after the two exchanged words heading towards the locker rooms inside the arena.

"(The referees) didn't want it things to escalate, they thought it might escalate with our team and theirs, but that's not even the type of team we are," Durant continued. "We just try to go out there and talk with our game. You saw it early on. They were trying to just let us know that they are going to control the game. I can understand that. I can see it from their perspective, but I just think that was too quick of a tech, both of them."

Orr ejected Booker with 6:36 left in the first quarter. Suns coaches were looking for an explanation as Vogel also received a technical foul.

"'What are you guys doing?'" said Vogel in recalling what he voiced to the officials.

Booker will be playing in the 2024 NBA All-Star game Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.

Durant didn't think the referees had any "ill intent" on the game.

"They were trying to make sure nothing goes as far or beyond what happened before the game," Durant said. "I can understand that part of it. With that being said, you might get some quick techs, but I thought those two were way quicker than normal."

Lane addressed Booker's technical fouls in a pool report after the game.

QUESTION:  Why was Devin Booker assessed his first technical foul?

LANE: For continual complaining, and after he’d been warned he continued to complain again towards a game official.

QUESTION: Was it more just about the continuance of it? Or was there language involved as well that warranted it was more?

LANE: It was more about the continuance after he had been warned to stop and he continued to complain.

QUESTION: After the [second] technical foul he gets ejected, was that the continuance again for the second?

LANE:  No, the second technical foul was for disparaging remarks he made towards a game official, and then he was ejected for the second one.

QUESTION: Was it the escalation that warranted the ejection early in the game?

LANE: The comment that he made met our standards and warranted the technical foul, the second technical foul which led to the ejection.

QUESTION:  Did the pregame events with Drew Eubanks and Isiah Stewart, Eubanks getting punched by Stewart, did that inkling a potential for more on court tension. Did that lead to any way you guys were officiating tonight or ejecting Devin or keeping it tight early?

LANE: No, all the decisions made were based on what was going on and the merits of the game.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker ejected in first quarter of Suns-Pistons game