Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns had the upper hand against the Atlanta Hawks early in the fourth quarter on Sunday. However, things turned around, which led the Hawks to have a comeback. The Suns’ five-game winning streak came to an end as they lost 124-122. After the contest, Brooks had some strong words regarding how the game was officiated in the fourth quarter.
The veteran player had an issue with the way the game was interrupted. During the middle of the final period, Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher stole the ball and had a dunk. Unfortunately for the second-year player, he landed terribly on the floor, leading him to sit on the bench for the remainder of the contest.
The officials’ claimed disruption of the game’s flow following Risacher’s fall was what infuriated Brooks. He complained about it to the referees, but he was given a technical foul. The Hawks were awarded two free throws.
After the game, Dillon Brooks complained in front of the media about how the referees changed the flow of the game.
“You get the ball out, you’re in transition. You call the play dead, and people are calling it out; you want to call a T and change another thing. That needs to get reviewed, and someone needs to get penalized. S**t, I got penalized for calling them out.”
"That needs to get reviewed. Somebody needs to get penalized. Shit I got penalized for calling them out."
Dillon Brooks on his tech after play continued after Zaccharie Risacher hard fall on dunk in 4th.
"I saw us playing 7 against 5. Emotional refs. They're making calls out… pic.twitter.com/ltY5EMEdhB
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 17, 2025
“I saw us playing 7 against 5. Emotional refs. They’re making calls out of emotion. Smirking while they’re making the calls.”
The loss spoiled Brooks’ 30-point game. The former Oregon forward finished the game with 34 points, six rebounds and three steals on 42.9% shooting from deep. Brooks and the Suns have another shot at adding another win to their 8-6 record on Tuesday, against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Suns’ coach appreciates the energy that Dillon Brooks brings to the team
In his first year with the Suns, Dillon Brooks has proven that he’s a valuable asset with Devin Booker. His mix of scoring and defensive tenacity has been phenomenal for Phoenix. After the game, head coach Jordan Ott was asked about the technical foul that Brooks had in the fourth quarter.
Ott expressed that he appreciates the effort that the forward brings to the game. Ott also highlighted how the former No. 45 pick energizes the group with his emotions.
“That part of Dillon Brooks is why we love him,” Ott said. “This isn’t his first year. He knows exactly what he’s doing. At times, we rally. We need that energy.”
In seven games with the Suns, Brooks is averaging 20.3 ppg (career-high), 2.9 rebounds and two assists. He’s been the clear second option next to Booker, as Jalen Green recovers from a hamstring strain.
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Follow me on- X at @BarbecueBro, and follow us at @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Reign Amurao via email at reignamuraonba@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
