Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is subject to an automatic one-game suspension after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during Friday night’s 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported.
The infraction occurred in the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Officials assessed double technicals to Doncic and Nets forward Ziaire Williams following an offensive foul on Doncic. Video review showed Doncic pushing Williams, who responded by swiping at the All-Star’s face.
Doncic, a leading Most Valuable Player candidate, finished the game with 41 points but expressed frustration with the ruling. “[Williams] was yelling in my face three times. I just wanted to get out of there… They said my push was exaggerated, which it obviously was not,” he told reporters.
The Lakers plan to appeal the technical, according to head coach JJ Redick. If the NBA upholds the call, Doncic will sit out Monday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards. Los Angeles defeated Washington by 31 points in their previous meeting on January 30.
A suspension would cost the 25-year-old star approximately $317,000 from his $46 million salary.
Los Angeles successfully overturned Doncic’s previous technical, assessed last Saturday against Orlando, allowing him to play in a subsequent loss to Detroit. The Lakers have dropped only two of their past 16 contests.
Doncic is averaging 33.7 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds this season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
