A heated moment from Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers has sparked serious backlash, with even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s supporters questioning the play.
The incident, which involved Austin Reaves going down in visible pain, quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the game.
While Oklahoma City went on to secure a dominant win, the conversation afterward centered on whether the play crossed the line.
Former NBA veteran Eddie A. Johnson did not hesitate to weigh in, and his stance was as direct as it gets.
Eddie Johnson calls out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ‘dirty maneuver’ on Austin Reaves
Reacting via his X handle, Johnson made it clear he was not defending the play.
“This was a flagrant 2, and I am an SGA supporter. Flat-out dirty maneuver. He could have dislocated Reaves’ elbow. I know. I got my shoulder dislocated on this same kind of play,” Johnson wrote.
The strong wording stood out, especially because Johnson made it clear he is typically supportive of Gilgeous-Alexander.
His criticism focused not just on the contact itself, but on the potential danger of the movement, something he connected to his own experience as a player.
What exactly happened between SGA and Austin Reaves in Game 2
The moment Johnson referred to took place early in the third quarter of Game 2, when Gilgeous-Alexander and Reaves became tangled off the ball while fighting for position.
As SGA attempted to break free, he locked onto Reaves’ arm and forcefully pulled it downward, causing the Lakers guard to fall to the floor while clutching his shoulder and shooting arm in pain. The sequence immediately drew concern due to how awkwardly the arm was extended during the motion.
Officials initially called a standard foul, but after review, the play was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 for unnecessary and potentially dangerous contact. The decision itself became part of the debate.
Some, like Johnson, argued the play warranted a Flagrant 2 and possible ejection due to the risk of serious injury, while others viewed it as an aggressive but unintentional attempt by Gilgeous-Alexander to free himself from defensive contact.
Despite the scare, Reaves remained in the game and finished with a postseason-high 31 points, though the Lakers ultimately fell 125-107 as Oklahoma City took a 2-0 series lead.
Still, the moment has not faded. Because when a play raises questions about player safety, it tends to linger well beyond the final score.
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