The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Luka Dončić for their next game barring a reversal from the NBA.
The Lakers star received his 16th technical foul of the season on Saturday against the Orlando Magic, triggering an automatic one-game suspension. Unless the league rescinds the foul, Dončić will be out for the Lakers’ clash with the East-leading Detroit Pistons on Monday.
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The foul occurred late in the third quarter, after an exchange of words between Dončić and Magic big man Goga Bitadze. The two had been jawing during a free throw, and Dončić continued talking to him as they ran down the floor.
The officials hit the players with a double tech. That will be more costly for Dončić, who is also facing a $5,000 fine.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game that Bitadze saying something about Dončić’s mother triggered the conflict and the team plans to appeal the foul:
“We’ll obviously try to get that rescinded. I’m not sure what happened. I do know that there were certain things said in a language that the referees couldn’t understand in reference to Luka’s mom.
The Lakers went on to win 105-104, via a game-winning 3-pointer from Luke Kennard. Dončić posted 33 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals. It is the Lakers’ ninth consecutive win.
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If it goes through, it will be the first time Dončić has received the technical foul suspension, though he’s come close in the past. He finished three straight seasons from 2020 to 2023 with 15 techs and had 13 last season. He was actually in the same position in 2023, but the NBA decided to rescind the 16th tech in that case.
The league has already rescinded one tech from Dončić this season, but that was a clear case of a mistaken official.
Dončić’s impending suspension isn’t unique
Dončić would be the second player in the NBA to receive such a suspension, joining Phoenix Suns star and past Lakers villain Dillon Brooks. Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has also been suspended multiple times due to his six flagrant fouls.
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If Dončić’s foul isn’t rescinded, he will face a $5,000 fine for every subsequent technical foul and another one-game suspension for every two techs for the remainder of the regular season.
All of this arrives amid one of the best stretches of Dončić’s career. He entered Saturday coming off the Lakers’ first 60-point game since Kobe Bryant’s farewell performance in 2016 and is now averaging 40 points over his past nine games.