With Father Time gradually catching up to LeBron James, Luka Dončić has taken over as the offensive engine for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, leading the league with 33.7 points per game. However, the Lakers will be without their star guard for Monday night’s matchup against the Washington Wizards after he was handed a one-game suspension.
Why Was Luka Dončić Suspended for the Wizards Game?
Dončić picked up his 16th technical foul of the season, which automatically triggers a one-game suspension under NBA rules. Earlier in the season, the Lakers successfully had one of their technicals rescinded, but this time, the call stood following an incident against the Brooklyn Nets.
The situation unfolded during an altercation with Ziaire Williams in the third quarter, where both players exchanged shoves before Williams responded with a backhanded swipe to Dončić’s face. Dončić was ultimately assessed a technical foul, later claiming it was issued because his push was deemed excessive.
The 16th technical foul automatically triggers a one-game suspension without pay, with the NBA announcing the decision on March 28 in a press statement.
“Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2025-26 season, it was announced today by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations,” the statement read.
“Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.”
As a result, Dončić will be unavailable for tonight’s game at Crypto.com Arena, leaving the Lakers without their primary scorer and playmaker. Even a one-game absence presents a challenge for the team’s rotation and offensive flow.
On the season, Dončić has been dominant, averaging 33.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range. Over the past month, he has elevated his play even further.
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During a recent 12-game stretch, Dončić has averaged nearly 40 points per game, powering the Lakers to an 11-1 record and helping them gain ground on the Denver Nuggets in the race for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
With just eight games remaining, every result carries weight. While the Wizards are not among the East’s top teams, the Lakers cannot afford to slip. In Dončić’s absence, James and the rest of the roster will need to step up to maintain their position in the standings and push further ahead of the Nuggets, who are currently 48-28 for the season.
