The NBA In-Season Tournament got teams playing with playoff intensity in December; that level of play was exactly what fans got from the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the tournament. In the fourth quarter, the Lakers and the Suns were trading haymakers, with Austin Reaves having the final say with a game-sealing triple to book their ticket to Vegas with a 106-103 victory.

The Lakers' win, however, didn't come without its fair share of drama. After Kevin Durant made a shot to cut the Suns' deficit to two points, the Lakers decided to inbound the ball quickly to Reaves. Reaves was clearly expecting an intentional foul, so he backed into Devin Booker, but the referee did not blow his whistle. The 25-year old guard ended up losing his balance, and it looked like Durant was going to pry the ball loose and tie the game.

However, while Austin Reaves was in disarray, LeBron James made the heads-up play to call a timeout, which referee Tom Washington granted. The only problem was that the ball appeared to be out of the Lakers' hands already when James motioned for a timeout, much to the infuriation of fans on social media.

Suns fans were absolutely livid, as they believe that the league wants its golden boy LeBron James deep in the NBA In-Season Tournament to drum up interest in the proceedings.

“NBA gonna gift wrap the first In-Szn “Cup” for LBJ and the Lakers … Reaves turnover in backcourt nullified by LBJ timeout call as Suns were recovering loose ball… disgusting!” one fan wrote. Wrote another, “league must be rigged… austin reaves clearly doesn’t have control over the ball almost falling over but lakers call timeout. ts is unfair and bulls**t.”

Others were more critical of the Lakers, as Austin Reaves didn't need to reach that vulnerable position in the first place if only Darvin Ham used up one of his timeouts to advance the ball.

“Bron bailed out Ham, because that really doesn't look like the Lakers should have gotten that timeout. I don't even know why Reaves didn't pass it to AD right in front of him,” expressed one fan.

Alas, what's done is done, and now, the Lakers are headed to Vegas with a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament awaiting them.