Rookie center Deandre Ayton addressed his locker room tiff with Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker after the two had a heated exchange following a lopsided 108-86 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Ayton previously noted that the friction between the two was only a result of losing games and wanting to get back on a winning track, a sentiment he doubled down on Monday after practice:

“That's just two guys trying to win, to be honest,” said Deandre Ayton when pressed about his reported locker room exchange with Booker, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “We just want to be winners, and we're all winners, so it is what it is.”

Pressed for further comments on it, Ayton wouldn't say much more:

“It's just use being competitors and wanting to win, that's about it,” he added.

Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton have reportedly had impasses like this one before, which could perhaps be pointed to Booker's new obligation as a vocal leader of this team after getting a five-year, $158 million vote of confidence from the franchise this summer.

The Kentucky product has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, while Ayton has struggled mightily at the defensive end the entire season after being one of the most lauded assets of this year's draft, resulting in his selection with the top overall pick.

Devin Booker has previously said the fate of this team rests in his chemistry with Deandre Ayton and the latter's development, but the losing has certainly gotten in the way of a successful partnership so far.