Mensur Suljovic got a talking to from referee Kirk Bevins for celebrating too much when he beat Joe Cullen at the World Darts Championship. The veteran got into the third round after a tough win against his British rival, who blew an early lead. It was unexpected since Cullen was expected to win.

The match was tense because Cullen got more and more annoyed with Suljovic's slow pace. After hitting the dart that won him the game, the 53-year-old jumped around the stage, enjoying the crowd at Alexandra Palace. He went to say hello to Cullen, but Cullen wasn't interested, brushing him off and glaring at him.

Suljovic kept enjoying his win, soaking up the applause. He also celebrated winning legs during the match, and at one point, Bevins told him off for taking too long.

After the match, he told Sky Sports about Cullen's anger and said he wasn't slowing down to throw Cullen off.

Suljovic said, "I don’t know; what’s his problem?" I give him missed doubles, everything. I like Joe Cullen, a very nice guy. I never play slow. I do it only for my game. I’m never doing this for him. Sorry Joe, never do this. I love him, man.

Cullen was obviously mad and went on social media right after the match to say Suljovic 'cheated' to win.

If that’s darts, I don’t want any part of it, Cullen wrote. Always liked Mensur away from the board, but that was plain for all to see!

I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. The old guard will say it’s part of the game, but word it how you will—it’s CHEATING! That’s not darts.

At the press conference after the match, Suljovic was asked about Cullen's anger and if he had said sorry for playing slowly.

Confused, he said, "Never have I ever said sorry to Joe Cullen in person." I play on that stage; what's his problem?

I say sorry, maybe, to the referee, maybe, but for Joe Cullen? Never. 'You play this, you play this.' Everybody plays differently. I wait maybe 40 seconds before the first dart.

Some guys (gestures throwing motion) and my head (gestures almost being hit in the head by a dart). This is not okay. I don't know what his problem is. What is the problem? I gave him missed doubles and everything.

I'm never doing darts not correctly. Maybe I am (gestures a celebration), my face or 'come on' too much. I like Joe Cullen. He is a very nice guy, but...

Suljovic will play either Luke Littler or David Davies in the third round of the World Darts Championship next week, hoping to keep going at Alexandra Palace.

LeBron James and JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the Lakers lost to the Clippers on Saturday, LeBron James and coach JJ Redick weren't happy with the officiating. It was the second game in a row where Lakers players got technical fouls for complaining too much.

James told reporters after the game that he was confused by how referees have been all over the place this season.

“I don't get the consistency. There isn't any. It just is what it is,” James said, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

James, who's almost 41, ended the Lakers' 103-88 loss with 36 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He had to do a lot of work because Luka Doncic got hurt and couldn't play in the second half.

Besides that, the Lakers were already missing Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and DeAndre Ayton.

Redick Thinks the Same as James About the Need for Consistency

Lakers coach JJ Redick agreed with LeBron James that the NBA officiating hasn't been consistent this season. So, Redick plans to talk to Byron Spruell, the NBA’s President of League Operations.

“The consistency is a problem, and I’m going to talk to Byron about it. It needs to be fixed. If any coach or player could have anything, it would be consistency. I'm not calling out any refs or crews. It's just that we need to know what to expect each night,” Redick said, via Fadeaway World.

In the last few days, there have been several situations that suggest the NBA has a problem. Coaches David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves were kicked out after they yelled at referees.

Even Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors was surprised when Draymond Green was ejected for complaining against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Kerr said referees ejected Green for talking, but Dillon Brooks wasn't ejected for punching Steph Curry in the stomach last Thursday.

James' Message Since Injuries

With four of the Lakers' five starters injured, LeBron James had a simple message for his teammates. James will have to lead the team during another injury crisis to try and keep them competitive in the tough Western Conference.

“No matter what, it’s next man up. We’re all pros and have to stay ready. It's very tough for our team right now, but we played hard and did what we were supposed to. We just didn’t get the win,” James said, via Lakers Nation.

The good thing for the Lakers is that Austin Reaves and DeAndre Ayton might be back soon. But they have a tough schedule to finish the year. They play the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and Detroit Pistons in their last four games of 2025.