When Luka Dončić steps on the floor, it’s usually must-see TV. But on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, that script flipped fast, and not in a good way.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard found himself tossed out late in the game after a bizarre ejection that had fans and analysts scratching their heads. Now, the NBA has handed him a $4,000 bill to go along with the controversy. Well, adding insult to injury? Check.
Luka Dončić Ejection: A Blessing in Disguise for OKC
With just under 8 minutes left in the fourth, the Lakers clung to a narrow 108-107 lead. Dončić had just drilled a smooth pull-up jumper when the sequence that changed the game unfolded.
While jawing with a courtside fan, Dončić caught the attention of the refs—again. Already sitting on one technical from the third quarter (for reportedly directing profanity at referee JT Orr), Dončić was slapped with a second technical by Crew Chief Tony Brothers and ejected from the game.
That second whistle flipped the game on its head. Oklahoma City capitalized immediately, ripping off a 13-4 run and eventually cruising to a 136-120 win over the Lakers. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking over late, the Thunder pounced on the moment. And the Lakers, missing key personnel and rattled by the sudden momentum swing, couldn’t recover.
Brothers addressed the situation, saying Dončić’s second technical foul was for his continued interactions that were deemed unsportsmanlike. Meanwhile, Dončić’s first tech was reportedly for profanity toward the officials. It was one of those games where emotion and execution clashed. And the refs? Well, they weren’t about to let it slide.
Suspension Avoided, But Wallet Takes the Hit
Now to the elephant in the room. Is Dončić in danger of being suspended for the following night’s showdown against the Dallas Mavericks?
Thankfully for the Lakers, no. As per FOX Sports, Dončić sits at 14 technical fouls for the season. Not the dreaded 16 that triggers an automatic one-game suspension. He entered Tuesday’s game with 12 techs on the season, and the double-whammy in OKC brings his total to 14. That means he’s still got a little breathing room. Well, for now.
However, the NBA did hit him with a $4,000 fine. Standard fare for a second tech resulting in ejection. While that’s chump change to a superstar, the incident still feeds a narrative that Dončić’s temper and relationship with officials could become a bigger issue down the stretch.
The Lakers face Dallas next, and it marks Dončić’s return to the American Airlines Center. A game fans have had circled since the blockbuster trade that sent him to L.A. earlier this season. And yeah, if emotions were high in OKC, imagine the fireworks if Dončić comes in looking for redemption.