In his latest game, the Slovanian sensation, Luka Dončić was cooking and the Lakers were holding their ground firm, just when everything unraveled. Tuesday (April 7) night’s clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder had all the makings of a thriller until officials stepped in and flipped the script.
With 7:40 left in the fourth, Dončić was suddenly tossed, and the Lakers’ momentum died on the spot. What followed was a complete collapse fans are calling not just frustrating, but downright rigged.
Fans Cry Foul As Lakers Collapsed Against Thunder
The five-time NBA All-Star had just buried an 11-foot jumper over Isaiah Hartenstein, putting the Lakers up 108-107. As he jogged back, Dončić appeared to say something, possibly to a fan—but referee J.T. Orr and crew weren’t having it. Dončić was slapped with his second technical and ejected from the game.
“The refs ruined that game,” one fan wrote, echoing the rage of countless Lakers supporters.
Tony Brothers, one of the officials who worked Tuesday’s game but not the one who gave Dončić that second technical later said he used “vulgar language” directed at a referee, but replays didn’t clearly back that up.
One fan called it how they saw it: “Refs bailed out OKC.”
Another fan pointed fingers directly at the league: “NBA will get more hate in this kind of ref… they bet on OKC to win.”
Luka’s Shocking Ejection Sends Lakers Spiraling
Moments after Dončić’s ejection, Jarred Vanderbilt was hit with another tech, and Austin Reaves was denied an obvious foul call on a drive. Just like that, the Lakers lost all control.
From a 112-112 tie with 6:47 to go, the Thunder steamrolled L.A., finishing the game 136-120. Dončić, before his ejection, had racked up 23 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds in 31 minutes. LeBron James added 28, and Reaves chipped in with 24, but it wasn’t enough.
The frustration in Lakers Nation was loud and clear.
“Look how butt hurt the ref was that tossed Luka. Pathetic. Refs bailed out OKC,” a fan posted, laying out the meltdown.
Some fans even suggested ulterior motives:
“NBA trying to make the playoffs race more dramatic.”
Perhaps the harshest words came from a fan who summed it up best:
“Refs threw away a possible game of the year for no damn reason.”
As Dončić prepares to face his former team in Dallas on Wednesday, the NBA world will be watching closely. But for Lakers fans, the sting from Tuesday’s loss and the calls that caused it won’t fade anytime soon.