Doncic faces suspension after 16th tech
LOS ANGELES—NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic is facing a one-game suspension after he received his 16th technical foul of the season while scoring 41 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-99 victory over Brooklyn on Friday night.
Doncic got whistled for a double technical foul with the Nets’ Ziaire Williams in the third quarter.
Williams was celebrating an offensive foul called against Doncic by gleefully screaming in Doncic’s personal space. When Doncic reached out to push Williams’ arm, Williams responded with a backhand swipe across Doncic’s face.
“He was yelling in my face three times,” Doncic said. “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. (The referee) said my push was exaggerated, which (it) was obviously not. I don’t know what else to say.”
Reviewed
Officials reviewed the incident before issuing technical fouls to both players.
Doncic has been building steam as an MVP candidate with a monumental scoring binge for the Lakers, who have won 11 of their last 12 as they streak toward the postseason in the third spot in the Western Conference standings.
Along with his NBA-best 33.7 points per game as he closes in on his second scoring title, Doncic is third in the league with 8.2 assists per game. He is also second in 3-pointers made and first with 15 40-point games.
