The Phoenix Suns already have a tall task in trying to knock off the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the opening round of this year's playoffs.

Star guard Devin Booker says the referees are making it even more difficult.

The normally reserved Booker was hit with a technical foul in the third quarter of the Suns' 120-107 loss in Game 2 of their series on Wednesday, April 22, for complaining about the officiating.

"It's definitely something that has to be looked at," Booker told reporters after the game. "I heard (the Thunder's Alex) Caruso tell them to call the tech and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James (Williams) was terrible tonight."

Booker was particularly upset with a sequence in the second quarter in which he was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket, then on the next possession, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on a Suns defender on an eerily similar play.