Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers have extended their win streak to nine straight games following a 105-104 road victory against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, March 21.
Doncic led the way for the Lakers, producing 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals against the Magic.
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There’s a chance that he might not be available for the Lakers’ upcoming game on Monday.
Doncic earned his 16th technical foul after getting into an argument with Magic center Goga Bitadze. The Lakers were down 85-82 with 1:19 left in the third quarter when the guard was called for the technical foul. Referee Marat Kogut also charged Bitadze with a technical foul.
Crew chief Marc Davis stated in a pool report after the game that a warning had been issued before the technical fouls were initially called.
The Lakers have already appealed to the NBA about rescinding Doncic’s foul, according to ESPN.
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“I’m definitely hoping (it is rescinded),” Doncic told reporters after the game. “I let my team down getting that last tech. But honestly, I wasn’t trying to. (Bitadze) said at the free throw, he would (expletive) my whole family. And at some point, this is a basketball court. At some point, I just can’t stand it. I got to stand up for myself. But I know I’ve got to do better.”
If upheld, Doncic would have to serve a one-game suspension without pay.
Bitadze offered a different account in a statement to ESPN about the exchanged words. The center claimed that the Laker first started cursing at him in Serbian.
“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done,” Bitadze told ESPN. “And I really respect everybody’s family. Where I come from, it’s really sacred and we really respect each other’s families, and I would never directly say that. He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia, I understand.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers’ Luka Doncic faces 1-game suspension after 16th technical foul
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