Luka Doncic Ejected as Lakers Face Thunder in Tumultuous Game

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — In a pivotal game Tuesday night, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic was ejected after receiving his second technical foul in the fourth quarter during the team’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The incident occurred with 7:40 remaining in regulation when Doncic made an 11-foot pull-up jumper, putting the Lakers ahead 108-107. However, he was whistled for his second technical foul shortly after, reportedly for arguing with a fan, which led to his early exit.

Doncic finished the game with 23 points, shooting 7-for-15 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range. He also had three rebounds, five assists, and one block in 31 minutes on the court.

“Luka was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving his second technical vs. OKC,” tweeted the Lakers’ official account.

The ejection sparked widespread debate among basketball analysts and fans alike. Skip Bayless commented, “The truth is, Luka deserves to be ejected almost every night, for arguing EVERY SINGLE CALL.” Rob Perez added, “That fan in OKC who just got Luka ejected deserves at least a 5th place MVP vote.” Meanwhile, Nick Wright criticized the officiating, stating, “Throwing Luka out here is absolute officiating malpractice.”

The game took a turn for the Lakers once Doncic departed. The Thunder capitalized on his absence, outscoring the Lakers 15-7 and leading 122-115 with just 3:39 left in the game.

Thunder All-Star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shone throughout the night, leading all scorers with 37 points on 12-of-24 shooting. He also went 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. All-Star forward Jalen Williams contributed significantly as well, adding 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting.

The Lakers had other standout performances; LeBron James led his team with 28 points, and shooting guard Austin Reaves added 24 points. However, the absence of Doncic proved a significant setback as the game progressed.

The Lakers entered the night with a close race for a playoff spot, making Doncic’s ejection even more critical. With Miami playing later, they remained just a half game ahead of the Heat for the final playoff position.

This story will be updated with final results as the Lakers continue to fight for their postseason position amidst a heated playoff race.