FURIOUS Los Angeles Lakers fans are raging at the free throw disparity during Sunday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers had just 8 trips to the line during the 123-113 defeat at Footprint Center.

3

LeBron James and the Lakers were beaten 123-113 by the Phoenix SunsCredit: Getty

3

Lakers coach Darvin Ham called out the referees for their ‘inconsistency’Credit: Getty

3

The Lakers average almost 25 free throws a game but got just 8 on Sunday nightCredit: Getty
It was a season-low for Los Angeles and left Lakers coaches and players fuming with the “inconsistency” of the officials.

Pheonix shot 18 of 19 free throws as they extended their NBA season record to 34-24.

Lakers superstar LeBron James could only laugh in exasperation following the contest when asked about the disparity.

“To have eight free throw attempts is definitely not us,” he said.

“I know, definitely, I got hit a couple times when I got to the paint tonight that wasn’t called. But it is what it is.”

Lakers coach Darvin Ham took a more direct swipe at the officiating in his post-match press conference.

“I’m not one to use referees as an excuse,” Ham said, via ESPN.

“But it’s becoming increasingly tough because of the inconsistency.

“I’m seeing our guys get the same contact on them as we’re supposedly committing. And the whistle is not being blown.”

Some Lakers fans on social media even went as far as suggesting the game was “rigged” against their team.

LeBron James: The King’s Court – A Career Overview
“Rigged from the start. The refs ignored 3 travels that led to 6 [Phoenix] points in the first quarter alone. Then Bron and AD couldn’t buy a single call. The Lakers needed this game and the NBA took it from them,” fumed one fan on X.

“There’s a reason why nobody was getting any calls from the refs especially the Lakers. So many fouls were looked over, it’s like the refs were blindfolded out there”, complained a second.

“Lakers can only win with free throws,” countered a third.

“Most games the Lakers are free throw merchants. It’s hard to watch [not going to lie],” agreed a fourth.

LeBron and the Lakers didn’t have a single attempt from the free throw line in the second half, a first for a team starting James since 2015, per ESPN.

They came into Sunday’s game averaging 24.7 attempts per contest as a team this season.

James, who averages 5.4 free-throw attempts per game, hit just one of his 4 attempts from the line.

“A lot of people, a lot of coaches, a lot of teams are like, ‘That’s all the Lakers do is get to the free throw line,'” LeBron continued.

“It’s like this narrative out there that that’s all we do is get to the free throw line.

“I mean, we have attackers. That’s what we do. We have attackers.

“We shoot the ball from the perimeter, but we’re not shooting 40 to 50 3s a game. We’re not that team.

“We don’t have the luxury of being that team. So, working it into the paint, that’s what we’re really good at.”

The Lakers are now 9th in the Western Conference and 31-28 on the regular season.

James led the team with 28 points on Sunday, as well as collecting 7 rebounds and making 12 assists.