Respect.

That’s what Devin Booker said about Tuesday’s exchange with Gorgui Dieng that led to his second technical foul, ejection and near altercation in the hallway between the two in the Suns’ 118-91 loss to the Timberwolves at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

“It was more of an out-of-line, calling someone out … kind of thing from a respect standpoint from that of view,” Booker said. “Like off-the-court, man-to-man type thing.”

Booker left the arena prior to the media availability following the game, so he spoke for the first time about the incident after Wednesday’s practice as the Suns (11-38) prepared for Thursday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers (29-20).

“We saw what happened and obviously it got a little bit out of hand,” Booker said. “That’s basketball.”

Booker said the first technical he received during the second quarter will be rescinded. JB DeRosa gave Booker the tech because he thought Booker said something out of line from the bench.

“He wasn’t looking,” Booker said. “He heard it from behind him, but we talked about it after halftime and he said he (would) rescind it.”

Booker said he was just clapping and cheering for the effort Josh Jackson was showing on a play.

“The ref was pretty sure it was Devin and Devin was saying ‘I didn’t say one word,’ ” Suns coach Igor Kokoskov said. “Back in the day, the referee, if he hears somebody is cursing him out or saying something inappropriate, he would give a technical foul to the bench. He didn’t find the person.”

Kokoskov said that DeRosa was “pretty sure” Booker was the one he heard from the bench, but he was wrong in this instance.

“Word didn’t leave my mouth,” Booker said. “The first technical was false, but the ref looked at it at halftime. He corrected it. Said he (would) rescind it. Everybody thought that was a tech and that I said something and I got this attitude.”

Booker was initially fined $6,000 for the two technical fouls he drew and $2,000 for the ejection, according to sportrac, a website that tracks professional sports salary information.

“I’ll get my money back,” Booker added with a smile.

Booker said the referee told him a technical foul can’t be rescinded until after a game. Without that first technical, Kelly Oubre Jr. said he believes Booker wouldn’t have been ejected for that second technical alone.

Oubre also said the Suns have to keep their composure. Taking that rescinded tech into account, Booker, Jackson and TJ Warren each have seven technical fouls this season.

“It’s very difficult, but at the end of the day, we’re out there to play basketball,” he said. “Nothing else. We’re not out there to fight. We’re not out there acting like gangsters. I’m out there to compete within the competition. If it gets a little heated, I’m not going to back down from you. I’m going definitely hold my own. That’s just how it went.”

Looking back at what led to the ejections, Dieng caught Booker with an elbow that knocked the Suns star down after gathering the ball off a turnover with Phoenix trailing 82-62 with 5 minutes, 24 seconds left in the third quarter.

Booker got up and was bent over tugging at the front of his shorts when Dieng said something that made him look up: “Say what?”

Booker proceed to walk toward Dieng and put his left hand and elbow in the area of Dieng’s face.

Quincy Acy directed Dieng away, Jerryd Bayless got in front of Booker and suddenly there was a scrum of players, coaches, referees and security addressing the matter.

“I think he’s trying to hit me,” Dieng said. “Everybody could see. It was clear. I wasn’t trying to throw a punch. He’s trying to hit me. I just laugh it off.”

Booker clearly wasn’t in a laughing mood.

“Something was said out of line,” Booker said. “I just addressed the situation and how I feel. That’s part of being a man, man-to-man.”  

Booker looked to confront Dieng in the hallway, but Suns director of team security, Max Cayard, held him back by his jersey. Those in the hallway area said Dieng had reached the opposite end of the hall, but Booker hadn’t got there yet thanks to Cayard.

“He wouldn’t let me go,” said Booker with a smile.

By the time Booker did get to the hallway, Dieng was already back in the locker room.

“It’s going to be a story for everybody on social media, but I care about this game a lot,” Booker said. “Like I said, it’s more of a respect thing.”

Oubre totally understood Booker’s side of the situation.

“As a man, you don’t let somebody bow you in the face and not do anything about it or at least address them,” he said. “I salute him for that.”

Jackson was ejected from last week’s game at Toronto and made a point afterward that the Suns are looking for respect from the referees. A week later, he watched Booker get tossed because of another respect issue.

“I’ve learned from it, he’s learned from it,” Jackson said. “We’ve both been though similar situations like that, but we just can’t let our emotions get the best of us all the time. We really could’ve used him out there and the end of the game.”

Dieng made light of the situation after the game by saying he was looking to “exchange jerseys” with Booker, but he also took a jab at the Suns star.

“I know in this league a lot of guys think they’re tough.” Dieng said. “And they’re not.”

Since Minnesota and Phoenix don’t play each other the rest of the season, Booker and Dieng won’t see each other in a game until next season. Booker looks to move forward from it, but chalked it up to being a “fierce competitor” in a “high-emotion game” who was “looking for respect” Wednesday night.

“I’ll leave it at that,” Booker said.

Warren out, Ayton doubtful, Holmes questionable

A string of ankle injuries has been shrinking the Suns’ roster. Deandre Ayton (left ankle sprain) and Richaun Holmes (right foot sprain) are both questionable for Thursday against the Trail Blazers. TJ Warren (right ankle soreness) is out. Coach Igor Kokoskov said none of them participated in practice Wednesday. 

“There’s a slim chance that (Ayton) is going to play (Thursday),” Kokoskov said after Wednesday’s practice. “(Holmes) feels better. I would say he’s questionable.”

Centers Ayton and Holmes have both missed the last two games. Dragan Bender has been filling in in their absence, posting a double-double in each game. 

Katherine Fitzgerald contributed to this report.

MORE SPORTS

Thursday’s game

Portland Trail Blazers at Suns

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV: FSAZ.

Outlook: The Suns (11-38) will face the Trail Blazers (29-20) for the second time this season. In their last meeting in Portland, the Blazers won 108-86. … Since defeating the Nuggets on Jan. 12, the Suns have lost the past five games. Devin Booker had 14 points Tuesday against the Timberwolves before he was ejected in the third quarter. Josh Jackson had 27 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. … The Trail Blazers are coming off of a 123-114 loss to the Thunder. Damian Lillard leads the team in points (26.3) and assists (6.2) per game. … After Thursday’s game, the Suns play again Friday in Denver. A game in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Sunday will make for three games in four nights for the Suns.