Luka Dončić received his 16th technical foul of the season when the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The officials gave Dončić a technical foul when he had a heated exchange with Magic center Goga Bitadze.
Why the NBA Rescinded Luka Dončić’s 16th Technical Foul
After beating the Magic 105-104 on Saturday, the Lakers claimed their ninth consecutive win since March 6. However, many Los Angeles fans were concerned that Dončić might miss the team’s next game against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
During the third quarter of Saturday’s game against Orlando, Dončić exchanged words with Bitadze. According to the Lakers star, Bitadze taunted him in Serbian with vulgar comments about his family.
The incident occurred when Dončić was shooting free throws with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter. After Dončić’s second attempt, he continued to exchange words with Bitadze as they ran to the other side of the court.
The referees issued both players technical fouls, which were Dončić’s 16th of the season.
MORE: Lakers Star Luka Dončić Faces 1-Game Suspension After Viral Altercation With Magic’s Goga Bitadze
Under NBA rules, a 16th technical foul automatically triggers a one-game suspension without pay. This was a huge concern for the Lakers, especially since the Slovenian star has played an important role in the team’s recent success.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, the league has rescinded Dončić’s 16th technical foul.
NBA’s Official X account posted, “The technical fouls on Luka Dončić (LAL) and Goga Bitadze (ORL) issued with 1:19 remaining in the 3rd quarter on March 21 have been rescinded upon league office review.”
The technical fouls on Luka Dončić (LAL) and Goga Bitadze (ORL) issued with 1:19 remaining in the 3rd quarter on March 21 have been rescinded upon league office review.
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) March 22, 2026
According to multiple sources, the Lakers immediately filed an appeal to have Dončić’s situation reconsidered. They argued that the referees should have issued a warning to Bitadze first.
The appeal was escalated to the league office, which determined the situation should not have triggered a technical foul on both Dončić and Bitadze.
Dončić will no longer face a one-game suspension and is expected to play on Monday against the Pistons. However, the Slovenian star will need to be more careful with his actions moving forward.
The Lakers are in third place in the Western Conference with a 46-25 record. While their trip to the playoffs is guaranteed, they haven’t yet secured the No. 3 seed. Losing Dončić to suspension is not something the team needs right now.
