Luka Dončić was ejected late in a close game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. The ejection came after he received a second technical foul for a comment he made to a fan in the Oklahoma City stands that referee J.T. Orr believed was directed at him. The Lakers were leading 109-108 at the time of Dončić’s ejection, but the Thunder went on to finish the game with a 28-11 run, resulting in a 136-120 victory.
Dončić’s ejection occurred after he scored a contested layup to give the Lakers a one-point lead. As he ran back on defense, he exchanged words with a fan, leading to Orr calling a technical foul on him, his second of the game, and subsequently ejecting him from the game.
The fan, Jeremy Price, revealed that he and Dončić were engaging in banter during the game when Dončić responded with a profanity that Orr believed was directed at him. Dončić later explained that he was merely responding to the fan’s comments and that it had nothing to do with the referees.
The loss was a setback for the Lakers in their quest for a higher seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They currently hold the third spot but saw their lead over the fourth and fifth-placed teams narrow to just one game. The defeat also put them at risk of falling into the play-in tournament instead of securing a direct playoff berth.
Before Dončić’s ejection, the game was closely contested, with both teams putting on a show from beyond the arc. However, the Thunder seized control after Dončić’s exit, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with a game-high 42 points.
Despite strong performances from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers were unable to recover after Dončić’s ejection, ultimately succumbing to the Thunder’s late surge.
NBA Recap: Thunder vs. Lakers
The Thunder displayed an impressive performance on the court, shooting 50% from the field and 48.6% from beyond the arc, making 18 of 37 three-point attempts.
Meanwhile, the Lakers faced a tough battle in Oklahoma City and are now gearing up for another exciting game on Wednesday. The upcoming match will see Dončić’s return to Dallas as the Lakers take on the Mavericks, promising fans a night filled with drama and intense competition.