Luka Dončić facing one-game suspension due to 16th technical foul of season

ORLANDO – Luka Dončić, the hottest player in the NBA, is now facing a mandatory one-game suspension after receiving a technical foul Saturday.

Dončić and Orlando reserve Goga Bitadze were assessed double technical fouls after Dončić attempted a free throw in the third quarter. The verbal interaction resulted in Dončić’s 16th technical foul of the season, which triggers an automatic one-game suspension.

Should the technical foul not be rescinded, Dončić would miss the Lakers’ game Monday night in Detroit against the Pistons.

Dončić was called for his 15th technical foul of the season in the Lakers’ loss to Denver on March 5. The Lakers then won eight straight.

Over that stretch, Dončić averaged 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists, going with 2.4 steals and 50.2 percent shooting from the field — a run of play that’s had him surging toward the front of MVP consideration.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokić and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama are also considered MVP frontrunners alongside Dončić.