Lakers fans were left furious at the officiating after a frightening moment involving Austin Reaves during Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fouled Reaves mid-air as he drove to the basket late in the second quarter. Adding to the chaos, Thunder’s big man, Isaiah Hartenstein, also collided with Reaves, causing him to land hard on his back. The impact left Reaves in visible pain, writhing on the floor before eventually shooting his free throws.

Reaves stayed in the game briefly, even attempting a three-pointer, but the pain became too much. Just before halftime, he headed to the locker room, leaving Lakers fans on edge. Lakers Daily captured the fans’ anxiety perfectly, tweeting, “Austin Reaves just took the worst fall of his NBA career omg…”

To start the second half, D’Angelo Russell stepped in for Reaves. However, relief came when Reaves later returned to the bench, prompting another Lakers Daily update: “Austin Reaves has returned to the bench from the locker room. God is good.“ Still, fans were enraged over the lack of action from the officials after such a dangerous sequence.

For Reaves and the Lakers, this was more than just a physical blow—it was a pivotal moment that highlighted the need for better officiating to protect players. While Reaves’ return brought some comfort, fans are unlikely to forget the scare anytime soon. In fact, they got right on to the matter!

Fans on X blast officials for ignoring Austin Reaves scary foul: “Eject both of them”

The Purple & Gold fans were quick to express their anger online. SGA’s mid-air foul, combined with contact from Hartenstein, and watching Reaves sprawled on the floor, writhing in pain, would naturally prompt any loyal Laker to erupt in righteous indignation. As such, many felt the incident warranted more attention, especially given the dangerous turn it could have taken.

One fan fumed, “EJECT BOTH OF THEM TH*GS,” the fiery reaction underscoring the frustration many feel about unchecked physicality on the court. While “th*g” is a harsh descriptor, it reflects the intensity of emotion when players like Reaves face unnecessary danger. Such comments often arise from a belief that officiating fails to hold players accountable for overly aggressive plays, which jeopardize safety.

Another asked incredulously, “How is this not being reviewed as a flagrant,” essentially raising a valid question about officiating. NBA rules emphasize reviewing plays involving potential injury, yet this incident seemingly bypassed further scrutiny. Fans feel blindsided when clear contact, especially mid-air, doesn’t even warrant a second look, leaving players like Reaves vulnerable without consequence.

Yet another user vented, “literally crazy foul by IT and SGA. wtf are the refs looking at?” It was a combination of blame and disbelief, directed at both the referees and the players. While it’s not humanly possible to catch wind of every foul, something as huge as this, especially in a heated matchup like tonight, does raise more than a few eyebrows. The apparent oversight amplifies concerns about game control and fairness.

A fourth critique was concise, yet said everything. “And the refs didn’t even want to call that,” the individual noted, effectively conveying their distrust in the officials. There’s also a widely accepted belief that star players or physical teams often benefit from leniency. For Reaves—a player valued for his hustle and skill—this perceived neglect feels unjust.

And finally, this fan emphasized the severity of the situation very well. “No flagrant call on the foul that damn near shattered Austin Reaves back.” The fact that the fan used “shattered” signals their concern for Austin Reaves’ well-being. Of course, we cannot ignore the sarcastic acknowledgment of the lack of any action, further exposing fan frustration about the refs’ passiveness.

For the Lakers faithful, the night wasn’t just about a win or lose. It was a reminder of how vulnerable their players can be, and how quickly those moments can escalate without proper intervention.