Suns Slam Officials After Loss vs Thunder

PHOENIX -- Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel was asked about the team's turnover problems after tonight's loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Suns turned the ball over over 20 times at Footprint Center on the second night of a back-to-back, both games ending in losses.

Vogel pointed his anger towards the officials.

"I'll start by saying they fouled the s--- out of Kevin Durant all night. Whether he has the ball and he's in the script, three or four, maybe five times, every time he's trying to get open he's being held, which is something I really want the league to look at. But we've had issues with it throughout the year," he said.

Full clip via The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin:

"They fouled the shit out of Kevin Durant." Frank Vogel. #Suns pic.twitter.com/adaw0x3Lzz
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 4, 2024

Durant finished with just 20 points on 6-15 shooting. It was his lowest scoring output in the last six games he's played and just the third time since the start of February where he's notched 20 or less points.

Suns center Jusuf Nurkic - who grabbed an outstanding 31 rebounds in the losing effort - also spoke on the officiating in his post game press conference:

"It's kind of really messed up when you have 13 offensive rebounds, 16 shot attempts and zero free throws. As hard as I worked, I feel like I'm getting fouled as [much as] anybody in the league. ... At least one? Not even one," he said.

Full clip:

Jusuf Nurkic said the career-high 31 rebound, but said it doesn't matter because #Suns lost.

Called out the turnovers as Phoenix had 22 that resulted in 31 OKC points. He had 5 turnovers.

Also puzzled he got 13 offensive rebounds, but didn't take a FT.

"At least one." #Suns pic.twitter.com/iyDg71GctG
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 4, 2024

The Suns were down by as much as 24 tonight, though they overcame that deficit and eventually took a small lead as the game's final moments drew closer.

However, it was the young Oklahoma City squad that showed poise in clutch time, knocking down shots and playing tough defense in their second win over Phoenix this season. The two sides will meet one final time later this month.

With tonight's win, the Thunder moved into first place in the West with a 42-18 record. Phoenix drops to the No. 7 seed at 35-26.

The Suns are back in action on Tuesday when the Denver Nuggets play host.