Referees blasted as Chris Paul fouls out of Game 4

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul reacts to receiving his sixth foul call and fouling out of Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks in the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Referees blasted as Suns' Chris Paul fouls out of Game 4

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 5/8/22

Phoenix Suns star guard and future Hall of Famer Chris Paul was in foul trouble throughout Sunday’s Game 4 outing against the Dallas Mavericks.

Paul picked up his fourth foul at the end of the second quarter and ended up fouling out early in the fourth quarter with Dallas up by eight points.

The play in question was suspect. Officials on-hand inside American Airlines Center in Dallas called Paul for a foul on Jalen Brunson.

Chris Paul has fouled out of Game 4 after this play on Jalen Brunson. pic.twitter.com/r5ooajNzCw
— ESPN (@espn) May 8, 2022

We’re not 100% sure what Chris Paul even did here. In no way was that close to a foul. And in reality, it impacted the outcome of the game. CP3 played a total of 23 minutes — scoring a mere five points on 2-of-4 shooting.

In the end, Dallas came out on top by the score of 111-101 to even the series at two with its second consecutive win in the Western Conference Semifinals matchup.

If I’m Chris Paul, I’m placing a check on the table before I start my postgame press conference and I’m going IN on this officiating. That last call was flat-out terrible.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 8, 2022

NOT A FOUL ON CHRIS PAUL. HE HAD THE BALL AND RIGHT TO GO WHEREVER HE WANTS. UP TO BRUNSON TO PULL UP AND AVOID HIM.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 8, 2022

The NBA if Chris Paul talks about the refs in the press conference pic.twitter.com/3frN35UmhJ
— Kofie (@Kofie) May 8, 2022

It’s been a continuing theme throughout the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs: Officials finding themselves in the news for all of the wrong reasons.

That includes the other Western Conference semifinals series between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies as well as the Eastern Conference matchup between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. This latest development surrounding Chris Paul adds another layer to it.

Let’s not forget Scott Foster is to James Harden what Scott Foster is to Chris Paul.

Good luck #Sixers…
— Is Scott Foster officiating ? (@ScottFosterOut) May 8, 2022

Scott Foster when he refs a Chris Paul game pic.twitter.com/6IUTqiZZAB
— McTannerV1 (Tank Gunner) (@McTannerV1) May 1, 2022

Blame the refs all you want but the Suns have been sloppy with the ball, disjointed offensively, giving up too many open looks defensively. Bench play has been poor. And I can't recall back to back games where Chris Paul has offered so little.
— Dave Burns (@Burnsy987) May 8, 2022

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: