LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić was whistled for his 16th technical foul in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, which will yield an automatic one-game suspension unless the technical is later rescinded.
The Los Angeles Lakers star will serve his suspension Monday against the Washington Wizards.
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Dončić received his 16th technical with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter after committing an offensive foul in the backcourt. Nets small forward Ziaire Williams came over to celebrate, and Dončić shoved him aside. Williams reacted aggressively, triggering a review for a hostile act. Both Dončić and Williams were assessed technical fouls after the review. Williams scored while drawing fouls on Dončić twice in the Nets’ next four possessions after the incident.
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The Lakers pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 116-99 win, their 14th in their last 16 games. Dončić finished with 41 points and 8 rebounds, his 15th 40-point game of the season.
NBA rules require players to serve one-game suspensions after their 16th technical foul of the season, with subsequent one-game suspensions for every two additional technical fouls they commit. The count resets in the playoffs.
Dončić appeared to pick up his 16th technical foul last week after an incident with Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze, but the league rescinded both players’ technical fouls after reviewing them the next day.