NBA Rescinds Luka Doncic’s Second Technical Foul in Controversial Lakers vs. Thunder Game
In a surprising turn of events, the NBA has decided to rescind the second technical foul that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic received during Tuesday night’s intense matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This decision was announced on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Doncic’s ejection in the fourth quarter of the 136-120 loss in Oklahoma City.
The game was a nail-biter, with Los Angeles leading 108-107 with just 7:40 left on the clock when Doncic was hit with a technical foul by referee J.T. Orr. This was his second of the game, leading to his ejection. Doncic later clarified that he was engaged in some friendly trash talk with a courtside fan, which Orr mistakenly thought was directed at him, resulting in the ejection.
The Thunder capitalized on Doncic’s absence, finishing the game on a 29-12 run to secure the win. “I never got a fan ejected,” Doncic explained after the game, emphasizing his usual practice of engaging with fans without involving arena security. “Never. But if [the fan is] going to talk, I’m going to talk back, like always. That had nothing to do with the ref. So I didn’t really understand.”
Earlier in the game, Orr had also given Doncic a technical foul in the third quarter. This was after Doncic argued that a foul call was missed when Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt was hit on the previous possession.
Referee’s Perspective and Fan’s Account
Crew chief Tony Brothers provided insights into both technical fouls during a pool report after the game. Regarding the first technical, which occurred with 4:02 remaining in the third quarter, Brothers stated that Doncic “directed profanity at a game official.” For the second technical, Brothers mentioned that Doncic “looked directly at an official and used vulgar language.”
However, the fan involved, Jeremy Price, who calls himself “The Courtside Tattoo Dude,” told ESPN that Doncic’s words were aimed at him, not the referee. “During the game within the game, I mentioned that he was short [on his shot] and he missed it, and he turned around and he shot an expletive back and J.T. happened to see it and, at that point, T’d him up,” Price recounted.
Price, who has a history of banter with Doncic from last year’s Thunder playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, suggested that Orr “possibly” misinterpreted the situation. “That’s probably why he picked up that technical, to be quite honest,” Price added.
Impact on the Game and Upcoming Matches
The ejection significantly altered the dynamics of what was an ultracompetitive game between the Lakers, ranked No. 3 in the Western Conference, and Oklahoma City, which holds the No. 1 overall record in the league at 65-14. The absence of Doncic, a key player for the Lakers, was felt as the Thunder surged ahead to victory.
Looking ahead, Doncic and the Lakers are set to return to action on Wednesday night. This game will be particularly noteworthy as Doncic returns to Dallas to face the Mavericks for the first time since the blockbuster trade between the teams in February.
- Los Angeles Lakers: No. 3 in the Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder: No. 1 overall record in the league at 65-14
- Upcoming Game: Lakers vs. Mavericks
As the NBA season continues to unfold, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this decision impacts the Lakers’ performance and Doncic’s interactions on the court. Stay tuned for more updates as the drama of the NBA season continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Information from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin was used in this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
