Lakers’ Deandre Ayton immediately fouled for hitting Chet Holmgren on opening tip

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to get back into their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it starts with what they do in their next two games at home. Game 2 of the series may have been their most frustrating, as the officiating was not up to par with what they wanted.

The hope was that things could change when they got back home, but they did not get off to a good start. Within one second of playing time, Deandre Ayton was called for a foul after hitting Chet Holmgren during the tip.

Deandre Ayton was called for a foul one second into Game 3 as he hit Chet Holmgren in the face on the jump ball

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Unfortunately for the Lakers, that actually did look like a foul, and it didn’t seem like anybody was against the call. As the game goes on, it will be interesting to see how the refs call certain things and if they call anything at all.

Several players, and also JJ Redick, were very vocal about the refs after Game 2. At the end of the buzzer, Austin Reaves was seen at halfcourt talking to refs, and it wasn’t to tell them that they did a good job.

“I felt like I was respectful to all of them all night. A million times in the past, I’ve said way worse stuff. And when we were doing the whole tip ball and they were switching spots, I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side, was just trying to keep an advantage. And he turned around and yelled in my face,” Reaves said postgame via Spectrum SportsNet.

Redick noted during postgame that LeBron James may have the worst whistle in the league from a superstar, and it felt like that at times during the game. Nonetheless, the Lakers have to focus on what they can control, and they need to get a win before they go down 3-0 in the series.

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