Lakers ask NBA to overturn Luka Doncic’s 16th technical foul
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ORLANDO — The Los Angeles Lakers have filed a formal appeal with the NBA seeking to rescind Luka Doncic’s 16th technical foul, issued during Saturday’s 105–104 win over the Orlando Magic, a team source told ESPN.
The double technical, called with 1:19 left in the third quarter after Doncic and Magic center Goga Bitadze exchanged words at the free-throw line, pushed the All-Star guard to the league’s automatic one-game suspension threshold. If the ruling stands, Doncic will sit out Monday’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons.
“I’m definitely hoping it gets rescinded,” Doncic said postgame. “I know I let my team down getting that last tech, but at some point I have to stand up for myself.” Doncic alleged that Bitadze told him “he would f— my whole family” during the exchange.
Bitadze offered a different version. Reached by phone, the 6-11 center said Doncic cursed at him in Serbian first, referencing Bitadze’s mother, and that he merely repeated the remark. “Where I come from, family is sacred,” Bitadze said. “If he feels I crossed the line, I apologize, but I only repeated what he said.”
The Lakers’ appeal contends that game officials should have issued a warning before assessing technicals, according to the team source. Crew chief Marc Davis, in a post-game pool report, said a warning had already been given and that the double technical was for “continual taunting … and unsportsmanlike comments.”
Doncic has twice reached 16 technical fouls in previous seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, and the NBA rescinded his 16th on both occasions. Saturday, he finished with 33 points and eight assists despite shooting 2-for-13 in the second half. The victory extended Los Angeles’ winning streak to nine games.
Source: ESPN
