A tough 120-113 loss against the Denver Nuggets extends the Los Angeles Lakers‘ streak of poor outings against top 10 teams in the NBA. While this is worrisome, the Purple and Gold will be more concerned with Luka Doncic‘s availability moving forward.
Early in the game against the Nuggets, Luka Doncic was given his 15th technical foul of the season, one shy of an automatic one-game suspension. Needless to say, Doncic was in disbelief. However, when speaking to the media after the game, Doncic provided a blunt explanation about the call.
“Just because I yelled, I guess. That’s what he said. But I heard three other players say the exact same sentence, and they didn’t get a tech,” Doncic shared. “That’s my problem. I was trying not to talk at all. That was the first thing I said, no warning or nothing. But I heard three other players say the exact same thing and nothing. I don’t know what to say.”
After missing a mid-range shot at the midway mark in the second quarter, Luka Doncic was seen complaining to the referees. Suddenly, an official blew the whistle after Denver scored in transition and awarded the Nuggets an additional technical free throw.
After the game, crew chief Ed Malloy shared why the official called the technical foul on Doncic and why there was a delay before the whistle was blown, stating:
“Doncic was issued a technical foul for using profanity directed toward a referee. We are trained not to stop an offensive transition when calling a technical foul on the defense.”
Malloy’s rationale seems fair, but when considering Doncic’s testimony, it would seem marginally excessive. While the use of profanity during games is fairly common, it would appear that the Lakers’ superstar was caught at the wrong moment.
Luka Doncic On The Verge Of Being Suspended
It is not a surprise that Luka Doncic has a bad reputation with officials. His constant complaints about missed foul calls often land him in an unfavorable position. However, considering the current circumstances, the Lakers may bear the brunt of his actions.
Having accumulated 15 technical fouls this season, Doncic finds himself on the verge of being suspended. Typically, this won’t be flagged as a major problem as it implies a one-game suspension. But considering that the Lakers have a 37-25 record (sixth in the West) at a fairly crucial point in the season, there is virtually no margin for error.
Luka Doncic is undoubtedly the best player on the Lakers’ roster. With averages of 32.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game, he is the focal point of the team’s offense. Thus, losing him at this juncture could prove detrimental.
Coming off a loss to the Nuggets, L.A. will look to add another notch to the win column in its upcoming game against the Indiana Pacers. With more pressure on Doncic to maintain his composure, the Lakers will hope their superstar can curb certain behaviors.
