The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 105-104 on Saturday night, but Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul, which draws an automatic suspension from the NBA. His team has won nine straight and is fighting for playoff seeding in the crowded Western Conference. The Lakers need their star against the best team in the Eastern Conference, but they won’t have him unless the technical gets rescinded by the league office.
Doncic was jawing with Orlando’s backup center, Goga Bitadze, and both players drew technical fouls. The big man was clearly trying to get under Luka’s skin, and it worked. He made just one of his five field goals and had only one assist after the dust-up. Fans know Luka is clutch, so this was the double whammy nobody wanted.
Luka Doncic receives his 16th tech of the season and if it stands he will be suspended for Monday’s game vs. the Pistons. pic.twitter.com/UNUABrb6W2
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 22, 2026
Doncic is currently suspended for Monday’s game in Detroit. The Lakers will do everything possible to fight for their star, but Luka can’t let any of this impact him. He is playing like the MVP, and the purple and gold need him, which made this headache even worse.
Luka Doncic gets suspended as technical foul problem returns
Doncic had been on his best behavior with the referees with this suspension looming. The lack of arguing has helped him get back on defense and makes the Lakers even more dangerous. Lakers fans can’t figure out why Luka isn’t in the MVP talks, and coach Redick thinks his chatter with the refs may play a role.
Doncic has been the best player in the world during this win streak. He is averaging 40.0 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and over 40 percent on his threes. Luka is making the Lakers a title threat and cementing himself as a first-team All-NBA selection. Everything was going right for LA until this.
Luka has always picked up technical fouls. He flirts with this suspension every year. It comes with having him on the team, but Doncic knows better. This was a Magic reserve just trying to get him off his game. Usually, trash talk spurs Luka on. Likely, the suspension looming had the opposite effect. It took a miraculous ending, capped by a Luke Kennard 3-pointer, to get the Lakers the win.
Luka explained the technical foul and why he hopes it gets rescinded in his postgame presser.
“Obviously, I let my team down getting that last tech, but honestly, I wasn’t trying to. He said at free throw, he will f*** my whole family. And at some point, this is basketball court, I just can't stand it. I got to stand up for myself, but I know I got to do better. My teammates, I know they have my back, so I let them down today, but hopefully, it gets rescinded.”
The Lakers are playing their best basketball with Doncic leading the charge. They’ve won nine straight and 12 of 13. It has helped Luka make history and vaulted the team to third in the Western Conference. They are trying to hold onto the third seed and avoid the defending champion Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. Every win matters, and things will be difficult without The Don.
Bitadze crossed the line, and Luka shouldn’t have been punished for standing up for his family. Doncic still has to curtail his issues with the referees. He wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for the needless technical fouls for arguing with the officials. That must stop. Credit to Luka for taking accountability for his mistake, and hopefully, he will learn from it moving forward.
The Los Angeles Lakers won’t have their superstar on Monday night against the Detroit Pistons after Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season. This has been a headache his team has dealt with for years, and the win streak may be snapped because The Don is out. Luka’s temper got the best of him. Hopefully, it doesn’t burn the Lakers.