Suns’ Devin Booker has a lot to say about ‘Last Two Minute Report’
Dec. 22, 2025, 4:24 p.m. MT
Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker believes the NBA should eliminate the Last Two Minute Report, in which final calls or non-calls are assessed that were at or within three points during any point in the last two minutes of a game.
“I think they should just get rid of it overall,” Booker said after Monday’s practice, Dec. 22. “I think it just adds more frustration to everybody.”
The Suns (15-13) face the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 23 at Mortgage Matchup Center a week removed from a 116-114 loss to their Pacific Division rival in which five technical fouls were called and Dillon Brooks was ejected.
“Everyone is emotional in games in those environments,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “We all got to get there to the edge and not go over it as far as technical fouls or emotionally, just distracts us from what we’re trying to get done.”
Booker admitted it’s easier said than done in terms of preventing emotions from spilling over.
“Just channel it the right way,” Booker said. “Understand that the refs make a call and that’s usually the call. It’s usually not going to change.
“We’re just looking for consistency out there, and that’s not always the case, but whatever you can do to channel that fight and that anger into the next possession or doing the next right thing, the better off for our team.”
The Last Two Minute Report at least calls upon the referees to address missed calls or missed non-calls, but Booker said he didn’t get any satisfaction out of the NBA admitting an officiating mistake was made late in Phoenix’s 119-116 loss Dec. 20 at Golden State.
“It kind of calls out referees in a way, but a lot of those plays, too, I try to see it from both sides,” Booker said. “Not specifically that call, but some calls, you put yourself in the shoes of the other team and you’re like, ‘OK, I could see why I’d want that call if I was the other team,’ but other than that, yeah, it’s just a waste.”
The call in question happened with Phoenix down, 117-116, with 9.8 seconds left. Booker tried to foul Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, but the officials didn’t whistle him for the foul.
Curry scored on a reverse layup with 5.7 seconds left to give the Warriors a three-point advantage.
“It’s poor,” Booker said after the game. “Seconds like that matter. We would’ve got the ball back with a little more time, more time to make a play. It was just missed.”
The Last Two Minute Report determined that it was an “incorrect non-call,” saying Booker should’ve been granted the foul on Curry with 9.1 seconds.
“Booker (PHX) initiates illegal contact to Curry’s (GSW) arm as he receives the throw-in,” the Last Two Minute Report stated.
Curry likely makes both free throws. He has the highest career free throw percentage in NBA history at 91.1%. He’s shooting 91% this season.
If Curry makes both, Phoenix remains down three, but it has 9.1 seconds left instead of 5.7 seconds. The Warriors could counter and foul before the Suns are able to get off a shot and play the free throw game.
If Curry splits the free throws or misses both, the Suns are down one or two points and they have more options on the ensuing possession.
The Suns failed to find a decent look as Royce O’Neale mishandled Collin Gillespie’s pass and the ball headed back toward halfcourt.
Booker tracked it down and tried an unsuccessful desperation 3 from 41 feet at the buzzer.
The Last Two Minute Report also said Booker “illegally” retrieved the ball and should’ve been called for a backcourt violation, but no call was made during the game.
The Suns have played several games this season, in which officiating has been a storyline, as was the case in their Dec. 14 loss to the Lakers.
Brooks was called for his second technical foul for making “unsportsmanlike physical contact” with LeBron James during a dead-ball situation with the Suns leading, 114-113, with 12.2 seconds left.
Brooks was ejected from the game for picking up a second tech.
Then Booker was whistled for fouling James on a 3-pointer with three seconds left. James missed the first free throw, but made the next two to give the Lakers a one-point lead.
Booker said he’s just looking for “consistency” with the officiating. When asked to expand on that, Booker did so without hesitation.
“Just consistency in the game,” Booker said. “I think one of my big problems is I watch all the games, mostly every night and expect to get similar calls to people that have the same usage rate as me, but that’s not the case.
“But in the game, with the referee crew you have, I think if similar plays happen on both sides, they should be called or not called (equally).”
There has been a growing dialogue about the officiating this season as players and coaches have recently been fined for either publicly criticizing the referees or taking issue with them during the game.
Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman was fined $35,000 for “directing inappropriate language toward game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection” in the fourth quarter of a 115-101 loss Dec. 20 to the Houston Rockets.
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch received a $35,000 fine for the same actions in the first quarter of a 112-107 victory Dec. 19 over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 for “making an obscene gesture toward a game official” during halftime of an 143-135 road win Dec. 18 against the Utah Jazz.
Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka received a $25,000 fine for “public criticism of the officiating” to the media following a 128-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets on Dec. 15 at Ball Arena.
Warriors forward Draymond Green drew two quick technical fouls that led to an ejection in the first half of Saturday’s game against Phoenix as he vehemently jawed at the referees and had to be restrained.
Green may very well receive a hefty fine for those actions.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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