While Austin Reaves’ career-high 51 points stole the headlines in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 127-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings, veteran star DeMar DeRozan was focused on another, more frustrating aspect of the game: the officiating. In his post-game comments, DeRozan did not hold back, pointing to a staggering free-throw disparity that he felt left his team at a significant disadvantage.
DeMar DeRozan Believes There Was A Lopsided Whistle
The Lakers, playing without stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic, were led by an aggressive performance from Reaves. A major part of his scoring explosion came from the charity stripe, where he attempted 22 free throws—more than the entire Sacramento Kings team combined. As a team, the Lakers shot 46 free throws compared to just 18 for the Kings.
This imbalance was the central theme of DeRozan’s frustration. The six-time All-Star, known for his calm demeanor, was visibly irritated by what he perceived as an unfair whistle.
“Forty-six free throws to 18? And we had to beg for most of those,” DeRozan told reporters. “It’s deflating. Especially when we’re going out there trying to play hard, trying to compete. It seemed like we’re getting called for fouls, but on the other end when we try to be aggressive, nothing goes our way.”
He summed up his feelings bluntly: “Forty-six free throws is crazy.” In his 17-year career, the veteran forward noted he had never been part of a game with such a lopsided free-throw count.
Reaves’ Career Night Fueled at the Line
Austin Reaves delivered a phenomenal performance, finishing with 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. He became just the fourth undrafted player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game. However, nearly half of his points—21 of the 51—came directly from the free-throw line.
When asked where Reaves caused the most problems for the Kings’ defense, DeRozan’s answer was short and pointed. “The free-throw line. Twenty-two free throws for him.” The comment made it clear that while Reaves played well, DeRozan believed the officiating played a significant role in his historic night.
The numbers support DeRozan’s frustration. The Lakers’ 46 free-throw attempts represent one of the highest single-game totals for any team in the last three seasons. Similarly, Reaves’ 22 individual attempts are the sixth-most by any player over that same period.
While the loss will sting, DeRozan’s comments shine a light on a larger issue of officiating consistency that often leaves players and fans questioning the fairness of a game’s outcome. For the Kings, it was a night where they felt they were not just competing against the Lakers, but against the whistle as well.
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