Devin Booker Responds to Fine, Rescinded Technical After Suns' Loss

The Phoenix Suns lost a third game to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with Devin Booker and company now facing an 0-3 deficit in their first-round series.

Saturday’s matchup in Phoenix featured OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going off for 42 points in a 121-109 victory. The Thunder also won without their second scoring option, Jalen Williams, who is out due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.

However, Ajay Mitchell filled in for Williams, scoring 15 points in the win. Chet Holmgren added 10 points and grabbed seven boards, while Alex Caruso came off the bench to contribute 13 points.

Phoenix saw standout performances from Dillon Brooks, who finished with 33 points and seven rebounds, and Jalen Green with 26 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Devin Booker shot 6-for-16, finishing with 16 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in the losing effort.

More news:NBA Admits Missed Calls Involving LeBron James, Marcus Smart in Lakers' Win

At a postgame press conference, a reporter asked Booker for his thoughts on the $35,000 NBA fine he received for his comments after Game 2, in which he criticized the officiating, specifically naming James Williams for several fouls. One of them was an inexplicable technical foul assessed to him that the league later rescinded.

“I read it as, ‘You were right, but you can’t say anything about it,'” Booker said when asked his reaction to the league’s fine and tech they took away from him.

In a follow-up question, Booker was asked about his reaction to a play involving Lu Dort after having a chance to look at the video footage himself. It occurred early in the third quarter when Booker went on a backdoor cut to the basket and tripped over Dort’s foot.

After that occurred, Dort seemed to raise his hand as if he was admitting to a foul. Booker left the game briefly with an ankle injury, but returned to play. He said during his press conference that the ankle was “fine” after the game.

Suns head coach Jordan Ott said postgame he thought he “saw him raise his hand as a foul live” and then looked at the play on video.

“Whatever the case — was it a foul, was it not — he puts his hand up, obviously indicating something occurred. And then for your best player to be out, in these types of games, those are massive calls or swings,” Ott told reporters.

Booker said he didn’t “want to make it a thing,” adding, “It’s not the first time it’s happened, and probably won’t be the last. You know, you just have to deal with it.”

Regardless of the officiating, the Suns now find themselves down 0-3, and one Thunder win away from being swept out of the playoffs. However, Booker also admitted his team needs to find ways to shut down Gilgeous-Alexander and said the Thunder are the champions for a reason, given their strong offense and defense.

Game 4 tips off Monday night at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time from Phoenix with NBC and Peacock providing the live telecast and streaming.

Read more:Suns' Devin Booker Rips Referees Over Technical Foul in Loss to Thunder

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 9:28 PM.