Chris Paul wants league-wide consistency with officiating as Suns fall to Raptors
NEW YORK — Chris Paul knew he traveled.
No complaints.
Paul simply dropped the ball and headed the other way, but he was called for a delay of game.
That turned out to be the second delay call on the Suns and the start of a four-point trip for the Raptors to give them a double-digit lead in third quarter of Friday’s 113-104 home win over the Suns (20-17).
“It’s tough in this league, especially when you play for so long and you get techs,” Paul said. “So much stuff is trivial and it’s so much control over what you can say, interpret the rules. I watch and play every night and I see guys get things called. I watch too much basketball and guys just drop the ball night after night and I don’t see a delay of game.”
Gary Trent Jr. made the technical free throw to put Toronto up, 75-68, with 5:11 left in the third. Upset with the call, Paul was hit with a technical foul and Trent Jr. made that free throw.
“The way things can get interpreted, it’s just unfortunate,” Paul said. “Obviously, I was mad that it was a delay of game, and the official said the rule is you have to give the ball to the referee. If that’s a delay of game, every night, it needs to be a delay of game.”
Still with possession, Toronto (16-20) turned again to Trent Jr., who delivered a jumper and suddenly Phoenix found itself down 10 points, 78-68, with 5:02 remaining in the quarter.
The Suns will look to snap a two-game skid Monday at New York (18-18) as they’re without All-Star Devin Booker, who will be re-evaluated in four weeks as he re-aggravated his groin in Sunday’s Christmas loss at Denver.
Diagnosed with a left groin strain, Booker had missed the previous three games with groin soreness. The Suns have also been without Cam Johnson (knee), Landry Shamet (Achilles) and Cameron Payne (foot).
"We've got two days to let it stew and we need it. We can make excuses about not having this guy or that guy. I've been in this league for a long time, man. When you get an opportunity to play, you've got to produce."
Monty Williams after #Suns 113-104 road loss to #Raptors. pic.twitter.com/Gkth2z7a9e— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 31, 2022
“We can make excuses about not having this guy or that guy,” said Suns coach Monty Williams as Phoenix is now seventh in the West. “I've been in this league for a long time, man. When you get an opportunity to play, you've got to produce."
Turnovers proved costly for Phoenix in the fourth of a six-game road trip.
Committing a season-high 27 turnovers, the Suns allowed 34 Toronto points off those miscues.
“I don’t know how many games I’ve ever played in with 27 turnovers,” Paul said. “That’s a lot and it started with me. And we still had a chance to win.”
Paul had a game-high six turnovers with three coming in the first quarter, Damion Lee chalked up five and Duane Washington Jr. added four.
"Guys throwing one-handed, left-handed passes, trying to make interior passes against team that clogs the paint when the 3-ball on the backside was there all night."
Monty Williams as #Suns had a season-high 27 turnovers that led to 34 Toronto points in Friday's 113-104 loss. pic.twitter.com/22fCa4bvcI— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 31, 2022
“We knew we had to take care of the ball,” Washington Jr. said. “That’s what (the Raptors) pride themselves on, they’re a very long, athletic team. They get their hands on a lot of balls. They’re very active. We were just a little careless with it. Twenty-seven turnovers, that’s really, really high. It’s hard to win a basketball game with that many.”
The Suns shot 49.3% from the field, making 14-of-30 from 3, but that wasn’t enough to overcome the alarming number of turnovers. The highest number of turnovers Phoenix committed in a game before Friday was 22 in Tuesday's win at Memphis.
“The turnovers controlled too much,” Suns wing Mikal Bridges said. “We shot it well. We played pretty solid defense. Maybe foul a little less, but that’s how the league is. I think the turnovers overpowered a lot.”
The Suns also got just a four-point effort on 2-of-10 shooting out of Deandre Ayton, who just scored a season-high 31 in Wednesday’s loss at Washington.
"I don't know. Just different coverages. I think I saw two or three people on me the whole night."
Deandre Ayton after tying a season-low with 4 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes of #Suns road loss Friday vs. #Raptors.
"I was reading the game to see what I could do." pic.twitter.com/iDMxCz2opm— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 31, 2022
“He just didn't finish around the basket,” Williams said. “Didn't play with the requisite force that it takes to play against a team like that."
Ayton’s presence played a part in Phoenix shooting it so well from 3 as the Suns got open looks. A number of turnovers came trying to feed Ayton though traffic inside, but he grabbed just one offensive rebound against the smaller Raptors, who started the game having the 6-8 Pascal Siakam guarding him.
“I just think Toronto did a good job, throwing different coverages out there,” Ayton said. “I don't know. Just different coverages. I think I saw two or three people on me the whole night."
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chris Paul wants consistency with officiating as Suns fall to Raptors
