Lakers News: Ref Explains Decision To Eject D'Angelo Russell Vs Miami

During your Los Angeles Lakers' 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night, point guard D’Angelo Russell was ejected after receiving his second unsportsmanlike technical foul. Normally a soft-spoken player on the court, it was strange to see Russell being thrown off, but it was amid some interesting calls going against LA all game.

Russell was ejected in the fourth quarter of the contest, with 7:52 left in regulation, after he spoke with the officials. It looked like Russell clapped in front of the official, and it seemed like frustration boiled over from non-calls going against the team all night.

D'Angelo Russell got ejected during the last time out, presumably for words used arguing a no-call after he thought Miami kicked a pass he'd intended for a teammate, and scored in transition to put MIA back up 10.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) November 7, 2023

Crew chief James Williams broke down why Russell was granted the second technical and why he was then ejected from the game.

"D'Angelo Russell received his first unsportsmanlike technical foul for an overt gesture reacting to a no-call involving a potential kick ball," Williams said. "That earned him his first unsportsmanlike technical foul. Following his first unsportsmanlike technical foul, D'Angelo Russell subsequently received his second unsportsmanlike technical foul for disrespectfully addressing a game official with vulgarity, and per rule his second unsportsmanlike technical foul resulted in his ejection from the game."

Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN

Losing Russell didn’t seem to hurt LA in the last part of the game, as they made a big comeback attempt. But the extra technical foul points that Miami received ended up mattering in the Lakers one-point loss.

Russell wasn't the only Lakers player to criticize the officials, as star LeBron James was bothered all night as well. James was frustrated with many non-calls as he drove to the basket, leading to him speaking out after the game.

"I'm going over to them respectfully and telling them what's going on in the plays and I consistently go to the line three or four times a game. Sometimes not even at all, which is weird," James said. "So, just got to keep driving, keep putting pressure on the rim and see if it turns. But we had some tough break calls tonight for sure. And not in our favor tonight."

Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN

The team wasn't happy about how the game was officiated, but sometimes that is just how things go. LA needs to regroup in their next game to salvage this short road trip.

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