Lakers guard Patrick Beverley, center, speaks with Lonnie Walker IV, (4), Anthony Davis, far left, and Austin Reaves, right, after an incident that led to his ejection during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is restrained after being pushed to the court by Lakers guard Patrick Beverley (not pictured) during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) restrains the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton from going after the Lakers’ Patrick Beverley after Beverley pushed him to the floor during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Lakers guard Patrick Beverley (21) shoves Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton while standing alongside Anthony Davis (3) and the fallen Austin Reaves during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton falls to the court after the Lakers’ Patrick Beverley (21) shoved him over the Lakers’ Austin Reaves as Anthony Davis (3) looks on during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Patrick Beverley, top left, shoves Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton to the court over the Lakers’ Austin Reaves as Anthony Davis, top right, looks on during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton falls to the court after the Lakers’ Patrick Beverley (21) shoved him over the Lakers’ Austin Reaves during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
A referee stands between the Lakers’ Patrick Beverley, right, and the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, bottom left on the floor, after Beverley pushed him to the court during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook, center, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) come together during a scuffle between the teams in the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Patrick Beverley reacts during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Patrick Beverley is walked to the bench after he shoved Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (not pictured) to the court, which led to Beverley being ejected, during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers big man Anthony Davis handles the ball as the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton defends during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis shoots during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV gets to the basket as the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton defends during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves goes strong to the basket as the Phoenix Suns’ Cameron Payne defends during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker shoots a 3-pointer as the Lakers’ Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook reacts to a 3-point shot in front of the Phoenix Suns’ Damion Lee during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns’ Torrey Craig, left, blocks a shot by the Lakers’ Patrick Beverley during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, right, beas the Lakers’ Anthony Davis to the ball during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves drives between the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker, left, and Mikal Bridges during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker handles the ball during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Patrick Beverley controls the ball as the Phoenix Suns’ Torrey Craig falls after trying to steal it during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV shoots as the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton defends during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Cameron Payne drives against the Lakers’ Thomas Bryant during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis tries to get around Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. Davis had another monster game (37 points, 21 rebounds, five steals and five blocked shots) in a 115-105 loss. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker attempts a shot as the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, right, and Dennis Schroder (17) defend during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves gets tangled up with the Phoenix Suns’ Torrey Craig during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton shoots over the Lakers’ Anthony Davis during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook handles the ball as Anthony Davis follows him up the court during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers big man Anthony Davis attempts a shot as the Phoenix Suns’ Bismack Biyombo defends during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, who sat out the game, reacts after the Lakers scored against the Phoenix Suns during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Patrick Beverley, left, trips up the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker as they pursue a loose ball during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis, center, grabs a rebound over the Phoenix Suns’ Torrey Craig (0) during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis loses the ball as the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker knocks it away during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV attempts a shot over the Phoenix Suns’ Cameron Payne during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns’ Torrey Craig tries to control the ball ahead of the Lakers’ Anthony Davis during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers big man Anthony Davis loses hold of the ball as he attempts a shot during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers coach Darvin Ham reacts to a play during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook reacts to a successful 3-point shot during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves gets fouled by the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, right, stands over the Lakers’ Austin Reaves as Anthony Davis (3) looks on after a hard foul by Devin Booker, left, during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder shoots as the Phoenix Suns’ Duane Washington Jr. defends during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV (4) drives past the Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges during the first half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Bismack Biyombo, left, gets dunked on by the Lakers’ Anthony Davis during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges talks with Coach Monty Williams during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker handles the ball as the Lakers’ Austin Reaves defends during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook drives against the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook sits on the bench during a timeout in the second half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker, left, defends the Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV during the second half on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Lakers star LeBron James, who sat out nursing an injury, watches from the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Lakers big man Anthony Davis listens to the national anthem before their game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The confrontation was the most fiery moment of the 115-105 road loss, which saw Beverley up the stakes after he thought Ayton was standing over Austin Reaves, who was down on the floor himself after getting fouled by Devin Booker. The scuffle wound up garnering a flagrant foul for Booker, a technical foul for Ayton, but will end up costing Beverley the most. Even in the postgame locker room, Beverley sensed that discipline would be forthcoming.
“Very unprofessional by myself,” he said. “Definitely could have reacted in a different way. So, yeah, I’m a big boy. I’ll take my lumps however they come.”
Beverley has started 14 of 16 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He’ll miss two games at San Antonio and a home game against the Indiana Pacers.
In a league-issued statement, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars said the length of the suspension was “based in part on Beverley’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.” He’s been fined or suspended eight times in his 10-year career.
In his postgame interview, Booker lashed out at Beverley: “Pat need to stop pushing people in the back, man. Push them in the chest.”
But within the Lakers’ locker room, Beverley’s defense of Reaves got a much more positive reaction. Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Reaves himself said they thought it showed team unity – that Beverley was indicating that he’d have everyone’s back. Even Coach Darvin Ham, while saying he wished his players to follow the rules, said it would have been “terrible” if none of the Lakers’ responded to the Suns’ taunts after fouling Reaves.
Reaves said he believed the confrontation might help build team chemistry.
“Just being around him, you know in any situation that they’re going to have your back on the court, off the court, regardless of what it is,” he said. “Little stuff like that does create chemistry that you might not think matters, but it does. If you go out and play and you see your bother giving it 110 percent, you’re not going to want to do anything less.”