Luka Dončić is teetering on the edge of a one-game suspension after picking up his 15th technical foul of the season.
The incident occurred during Thursday’s 120-113 defeat to the Nuggets, leaving the Lakers star just one technical away from triggering the suspension.
The Technical Foul Incident
Official Dedrick Taylor issued the technical foul after Dončić felt he was fouled by Denver’s Bruce Brown and no call was made. Play continued, and Taylor then penalised Dončić after the Nuggets scored.
Dončić expressed his frustration, saying he yelled at the referee, but claimed others said the same thing without being penalised. “I yelled at him I guess. That’s what he said. But I heard three other players say the exact same sentence and didn’t get a tech,” Dončić said. “And that’s my problem, you know, I was trying not to talk at all. This is the first thing I said, no warning or nothing. But I heard three other players say the exact same thing and nothing. So it’s just, you know… I don’t know what to say.”
Crew chief Ed Malloy stated the call was made because Dončić used profanity directed at a referee. He added that officials are trained not to stop an offensive transition when calling a technical foul on the defence.
Dončić’s Reaction and Possible Rescission
Dončić hopes the technical foul will be rescinded. “I mean if three other people say it and I’m the only one that get a tech, what’s the point of that?” he questioned. “I really wasn’t trying to talk at all and that was the first thing I said.”
Team’s Awareness and Frustration
Coach JJ Redick said that the Lakers have been actively discussing limiting interactions with officials. Redick mentioned before the game that Dončić was aware of his proximity to a possible suspension. “He’s aware that he’s close,” Redick said. “And I think he’s trying.”
The Lakers were unhappy with the officiating in the game against Denver, where the Nuggets had 16 more free throws. LeBron James, who hurt his left elbow, said officials described the contact on one play as “marginal.”
“It’s the same s—. ‘Marginal.’ It’s the same s—. It’s, it’s, it’s … whatever,” James said. “That’s all they keep saying is, ‘marginal.’ I’m so f—ing tired of that word. It doesn’t make no sense.”
The Lakers only attempted 15 free throws, tying for their third fewest this year. They average 26.4 free throw attempts per game, ranking third in the NBA.
Impact on the Game
Redick said the Lakers’ poor start and missed layups contributed to the loss. “I think the two things that sort of like if you look at the aggregate of the game, obviously just the start was detrimental to our team. But we missed four layups, plus a follow dunk. So that’s five layups in the second half,” Redick said after. “And I thought the refs were very consistent. Don’t think that we necessarily got fouled or not fouled and we weren’t fouling or not fouling. You lose free throws essentially by 14 because we were f
The Lakers were also called for three technical fouls in a tight win Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.