Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker got away with a sure-fire foul in the latter portion of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
The Phoenix Suns were looking to put Game 3 behind them and leave Milwaukee with a win over the Bucks to give them a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. But in Game 4, the Bucks were not going away too easily, as it was a largely back-and-forth affair. Unfortunately, shoddy officiating arrived at the worst possible time — the closing minutes of the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, Bucks guard Jrue Holiday drove to the basket and attempted a layup with Suns star Devin Booker guarding him. Booker then made obvious contact with Holiday, worthy of a foul call. But none came, and Twitter could not believe it.
NBA refs missed this blatant foul on Devin Booker
D-Book wasn't called for a foul on this Jrue Holiday drive 👀
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 15, 2021
He has 5 fouls pic.twitter.com/pyw0NULe3H
NBA fans lost their minds when Devin Booker didn’t foul out
that is a potentially historic no-call.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) July 15, 2021
That is an insane non-call on Booker. And I'm sorry -- you're not going to convince me the referees weren't keenly aware that would have been six fouls. There is no angle where that looks like anything but a foul.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) July 15, 2021
One of the all time no calls on Booker’s 6th foul. Legendary stuff. He actually fouled him twice!!!!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 15, 2021
NO IDEA WHAT DEVIN BOOKER WAS DOING TRYING TO STOP THAT DRIVE BY FOULING. DOESN'T HE KNOW HE HAS FIVE FOULS??? SO LUCKY THEY DIDN'T CALL THAT. CALL THAT, AND PHOENIX LOSES.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 15, 2021
uhhhh yuh that is a foul
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) July 15, 2021
Bucks got the 2 points and Booker is still in the game. Refs got it right.
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) July 15, 2021
Good god, refs.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) July 15, 2021
Perhaps the main point of the non-call was that Booker already had five fouls called against him in that game. A sixth would have sent him off the court. Instead, he got away with obvious contact on Holiday.