Things got heated at last night’s Lakers versus Suns game over in Phoenix.
In the final quarter of the game, and with at least four minutes remaining on the clock, the Suns had a 106-96 lead over the Lakers. But then Patrick Beverly got ejected. So, what happened? Well, it all unfolded when Devin Booker, of the Suns, got called for a shooting foul on Lakers guard, Austin Reaves. Booker was seen standing over Reaves at the end of the collision and call, as Deandre Ayton also decided to stand over Reaves.
Immediately reacting to seeing his teammate down on the floor with two of the opposing team’s players hovering over him, Pat Bev went into defensive mode and shoved Ayton to the floor. The refs immediately motioned for Bev’s ejection.
The referees also assessed Booker’s foul on Reaves, upgrading it to a flagrant 1 foul.
“Got a person on the ground, two people looking over mean-mugging and puffing their chest out and referees don’t get into it to kind of separate it, control the game, so I’m going to stand up for my teammate, I’m not going for that s–t. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened on national TV. But you know me: Regardless of what’s going on, I’m a big fan of protecting my teammates… I’m a foxhole guy. I put on the jersey, and I commit to a team, I commit to a city, and it’s kind of my motto. I’m a foxhole guy.” – Pat Bev
Anthony Davis on Patrick Beverley shoving Deandre Ayton: "We got each other’s back. Pat is known for that — having his teammates’ backs … We don’t let anybody stand over our teammate."
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) November 23, 2022
"Pat [Bev] needs to stop pushing people in the back. Push them in the chest."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 23, 2022
D-Book on Beverley's shove on Ayton that got him ejected. pic.twitter.com/iVKRnJjU2E
Monty Williams said it is getting silly when it comes to Patrick Beverley shoving another Suns player in the back. Said he would like to see the league look into plays like that.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) November 23, 2022
That should cost Patrick Beverley at least one game in a suspension.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 23, 2022
I like that he stood up for his teammate but that can’t happen.
At some point the NBA has to come down a little harder on Beverley for repeated offenses right? The man gets suspended or fined for cheap shots at least once a season
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) November 23, 2022
Devin Booker called it "nonsense" what happened at the end of the game with Patrick Beverley. Reiterated that he'd have a lot more respect if Bev had pushed Deandre Ayton in the chest while facing him rather than in the back
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 23, 2022
