Dončić Ejection for Fan Remark Contributes to Lakers’ Loss vs. Thunder

Luka Dončić was ejected from a close contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night after receiving his second technical foul. The ejection occurred with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Lakers leading 109-108. According to both Dončić and a spectator involved, referee J.T. Orr mistakenly believed Dončić’s comment to the fan was directed at him.  

The pivotal moment followed a contested layup by Dončić that put the Lakers ahead 108-107. As he moved back on defense, he exchanged words with a fan seated courtside. Orr, positioned nearby, then issued the technical foul, leading to Dončić’s automatic ejection.

Crew chief Tony Brothers later confirmed that the ejection was due to Dončić using what was perceived as vulgar language directed at an official. Brothers also noted that Dončić had received his first technical foul earlier in the game for profanity aimed at a game official.  

The fan involved, Jeremy Price, told ESPN that he and Dončić were having a back-and-forth when the comment occurred. Price indicated that Orr “possibly” thought the remark was intended for him but did not specify the exact words Dončić used. Orr did not comment to the media post-game.

Following Dončić’s ejection, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made the ensuing technical free throw, tying the score at 108-108. Moments later, Jarred Vanderbilt received another technical foul, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to give the Thunder a 109-108 lead. Austin Reaves briefly put the Lakers back on top with two free throws, but Alex Caruso responded with a three-pointer, giving the Thunder a 112-110 advantage. Oklahoma City then dominated the remainder of the game, going on a 28-11 run to secure a 136-120 victory.

Dončić corroborated Price’s account in his post-game press conference, stating his comment was directed at the fan, not the referee.

This loss carries significant implications for the Lakers’ playoff seeding aspirations in the tightly contested Western Conference. Prior to the game, the Lakers were in third place. The defeat dropped their record to 48-31, and while they maintained their third-place standing, their lead over the fourth-place Denver Nuggets and fifth-place Memphis Grizzlies shrunk to just one game. Furthermore, they are now only 1.5 games ahead of seventh place, which would necessitate participation in the play-in tournament. The Lakers have three regular-season games remaining.

The Thunder, on the other hand, had already secured the top seed in the Western Conference.

The game had been a closely fought affair before Dončić’s ejection. The first quarter was a high-scoring shootout, ending in a 43-43 tie. The Thunder built a ten-point lead in the second quarter, taking an eight-point advantage into halftime. The Lakers responded with a 16-6 run to start the third, eventually taking the lead. The score remained tight heading into the fourth quarter, with several lead changes before the controversial ejection.

At the time of his exit, Dončić had accumulated 23 points, five assists, and three rebounds. LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points, while Reaves added 24. Despite shooting an impressive 45% from three-point range, the Lakers ultimately faltered after losing their star point guard and their composure, allowing the Thunder to seize control and secure the win.
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