Suns' Ayton, Williams have heated exchange during loss to Wizards

Deandre Ayton got into a heated exchange with head coach Monty Williams in the final minute of the Phoenix Suns' 113-110 loss Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.

However, Williams denied he was singling out Ayton in the team huddle.

"It was the whole team in those moments," Williams told reporters postgame, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. "It wasn't just Deandre, it was the whole group out there not executing properly. It was a bit of frustration, but that happens. That was not an isolated one-person or one-player thing."

Ayton also downplayed the interaction with Williams, knowing his bench boss only had the team's best interest at heart.

"We weren't really exchanging words," Ayton said. "We're a family. He know how to talk to his boys, and his boys know how to just communicate. Obviously, the whole world see it, but it's really all love and just getting us back to regroup and just take out the confusion.

"Everybody got to see us intensified in the moment," Ayton added. "Damn, we lost our upper hand. It can get a little emotional. Oh, 'I thought you said this.' But coach clarified it up in the huddle where we all were exchanging words."

Ayton and Williams have butted heads in the past. The former No. 1 overall pick was benched during the Suns' season-ending Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs. When Ayton arrived at training camp in September, he admitted they haven't spoken since that defeat.

The big man was a restricted free agent this past summer after failing to agree on a long-term contract with Phoenix before the 2021-22 campaign.

Last July, the Indiana Pacers signed Ayton to an NBA-record four-year, $133-million maximum contract offer sheet, but the Suns quickly matched it to retain their starting center.

Ayton becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15 and can veto any deal involving himself until July 15.

The Arizona product is averaging 17.6 points, 9.7 boards, and 2.0 assists over 28 appearances this season.

Meanwhile, Phoenix sits just one game back of the West's top seed despite dropping six of its last 10 contests.