Luka Doncic has escaped a one-game suspension following what the Los Angeles Lakers would have considered a costly technical foul on Saturday.
The Slovenian guard was assessed his 16th tech of the season during the third quarter of the Lakers’ thriller of a win over the Orlando Magic.
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Doncic had a bit of a spat with Magic center Goga Bitadze while at the free-throw line, and they were both issued technical fouls.
“Both Dončić and Bitadze were both assessed technical fouls for their continual taunting of one another,” crew chief Marc Davis explained to a pool reporter after the game. “They were both warned to cease their comments directed towards one another between the two free throws. After the free throw and as the ball entered the frontcourt, they were both correctly assessed technical fouls for their unsportsmanlike comments directed towards one another.”
Doncic claimed Bitadze made disrespectful comments regarding his family.
“Obviously, I let my team down getting that last tech. But honestly, I wasn’t trying to. He said at the free throw that he would [expletive] my whole family,” Dončić said Saturday. “And at some point, this is a basketball court, and at some point, I can’t stand … I’ve got to stand up for myself. But I know I’ve got to do better. My teammates, I know they have my back. So, I let them down today. But hopefully, it’ll get rescinded.”
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It has, in fact, been rescinded. The NBA has scratched both techs, per The Athletic, which leaves Doncic available to play against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
The Lakers are on a nine-game win streak.
Goga Bitadze Denies Disrespecting Luka Doncic’s Family
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots the ball past Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) in the second quarter at Kia Center. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
Meanwhile, Bitadze has pushed back on Doncic’s version of events, claiming he didn’t make any disparaging comments toward the latter’s family and only repeated what the Lakers guard told him.
“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done. And I really respect everybody’s family. Where I come from, it’s really sacred, and we really respect each other’s families, and I would never directly say that,” he said. “He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia. I understand. I don’t know if he knew I understood what he said. So, I just said it back. And it was nothing towards his family or anybody. His family, I really, truly respect them, and that’s pretty much it.
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“… I’m a fan of his game and don’t want to look like it was directed to his family, or anything. It was just in the heat of the moment. I heard what he said, and I felt like I had to respond the same way. So, from my side, if he feels like I said something too much or crossed the line, I apologize as a man. I can take (accountability), but I didn’t say anything but what he said. What he came out and said, I don’t think that’s the truth. I know that’s not the truth.”
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This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.