Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is facing a suspension after picking up a technical foul in last night’s win over the Orlando Magic, but head coach JJ Redick believes it shouldn’t have been issued.
The Lakers star got involved in a heated exchange with Orlando’s Goga Bitadze during the game, with referees eventually issuing Luka a technical foul. That became his 16th of the season, which results in an automatic suspension per NBA rules.
Los Angeles went on to win the game thrillingly, 105-104, behind Luke Kennard’s shot in the final seconds. Despite looking like they might have their winning streak snapped on the road by a talented Magic squad, the Lakers have now won nine straight
Still, the potential absence of one of their two superstars for a game could be problematic, as he generally is the team’s leading scorer and flirts with triple-double performances on many nights.
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At the postgame press conference, Redick was asked about getting an explanation of Luka’s technical. He said he didn’t feel the technical should have occurred, and shed light on what he knew of the situation. The Lakers’ head coach also called out the overall officiating job for the game.
“No, but we’ll obviously try to get that rescinded. I’m not sure what happened. I do know that there were certain things said in a language that referees couldn’t understand in references to Luca’s mom, and I think they just- Austin [Reaves] gets targeted three times by [Wednell Carter Jr.], it’s just, they didn’t have real good control of that basketball game,” he told reporters.
Redick also labeled it as “one of the weirdest games” he’s been a part of during his history in the league.
“You know we did a good job of just playing through stuff,” he said regarding his team’s win against Orlando.
“Again, the external circumstances of whatever tonight was and not allowing that to get us off our game,” he said, adding, “One of the weirdest games I’ve been a part of.”
Los Angeles had 20 fouls compared to 27 for the home team. That resulted in 29 free throw attempts for the visitors, helping them remain in the game. However, the biggest foul call came against the Lakers with the potential for their superstar to be suspended for a game.
Up next for the Lakers is a visit to play another tough Eastern Conference team: the Detroit Pistons. Playing without their NBA All-Star Cade Cunningham, Detroit will try to dethrone LeBron James and the Lakers on Monday evening.
By then, the NBA will likely have announced that Luka Doncic is either suspended or the technical was rescinded after his fiery exchange with Bitadze.
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