When the Los Angeles Lakers take the court to host the Washington Wizards on Monday night, they’ll be without star guard Luka Doncic.
Doncic is facing a one-game suspension from the NBA after receiving his 16th technical foul of the season during L.A.’s 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. If upheld, Doncic will be forced to miss the game against Washington.
Luka Doncic to serve one-game suspension after receiving 16th technical foul
The 16th technical called on Doncic was the result of a scuffle he had with Nets forward Ziaire Williams in the third quarter of the contest. Unsurprisingly, Doncic didn’t necessarily agree with the call.
“[Williams] was yelling in my face — three times,” Doncic said after the game. “I just wanted to get out of there. It’s a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed, my push was ‘exaggerated,’ which [it] was obviously not. And I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Doncic previously received his 16th technical of the season last week in a game against the Orlando Magic, but it was ultimately rescinded after the Lakers made an appeal to the league. This time around though, Doncic might not be so lucky.
On the season, Doncic is averaging 33.7 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per performance. The Lakers have won seven straight games over the Wizards, who have won just 17 total games on the current campaign. So even without Doncic, L.A. should be able to take care of business.
