Dave McMenaminApr 9, 2025, 01:33 AM ET
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- Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
- Lined the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Luka Doncic says he was once trash-talking with a courtside fan within the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-120 loss to the Oklahoma Town Thunder on Tuesday when an reliable idea Doncic’s ire was once directed at him, resulting in an ejection for the Lakers guard.
“I by no means were given a fan ejected,” Doncic stated, explaining how he’ll regularly have interaction with opposing fanatics with out asking enviornment safety to interfere. “By no means. But when [the fan is] going to speak, I will communicate again, like at all times. That had not anything to do with the ref. So I did not truly perceive.”
Los Angeles led 108-107 with 7:40 left when Doncic was once whistled for a technical foul by means of referee J.T. Orr, his 2nd of the sport. Orr additionally gave Doncic a tech within the 3rd quarter, when Doncic argued {that a} foul name was once overlooked when Lakers ahead Jarred Vanderbilt was once hit at the earlier ownership.
The Thunder completed the sport on a 29-12 run to rout the Lakers.
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“He idea I were given fouled, which I did get fouled, I were given slapped around the head,” Vanderbilt stated of Doncic. “He was once simply telling the ref that that is what came about. And the ref was once similar to … ‘I’m going to communicate to anyone however you, Luka.’ So it appeared just a little non-public at that time.”
Team leader Tony Brothers was once requested about each technical fouls all through a pool file after the sport.
For the primary, which got here with 4:02 final within the 3rd quarter, Brothers stated Doncic “directed profanity at a sport reliable.” For the second one, Brothers stated Doncic “seemed immediately at an reliable and used vulgar language.”
The fan, Jeremy Worth, who referred to himself as “The Courtside Tattoo Dude,” informed ESPN that Doncic was once shouting at him and no longer the referee.
“Right through the sport throughout the sport, I discussed that he was once brief [on his shot] and he overlooked it, and he became round and he shot an expletive again and J.T. came about to look it and, at that time, T’d him up,” Worth stated.
Worth, who stated he additionally jawed with Doncic ultimate yr all through the Thunder’s playoff sequence towards the Dallas Mavericks, stated Orr “in all probability” will have been fallacious as to whom Doncic was once addressing.
“That is most probably why he picked up that technical, to be relatively truthful,” Worth stated.
The ejection modified the process an ultracompetitive sport between the Lakers, ranked No. 3 within the Western Convention, and Oklahoma Town, which boasts the No. 1 total document within the league at 65-14.
“Each groups knew that this was once going to be a playoff-type environment, playoff-type pageant, playoff-type feeling, and it simply were given bizarre,” Lakers ahead LeBron James stated. “The sport were given bizarre after that.”
Added Lakers trainer JJ Redick: “It was once a really perfect sport that sadly did not get to complete out the way in which that I believe each basketball fan would wish as a result of some decision-making on some people’ portions.”
“I by no means were given a fan ejected,” Luka Doncic defined, noting he’ll regularly have interaction with opposing fanatics with out asking safety to interfere. “By no means. But when [the fan is] going to speak, I will communicate again, like at all times. That had not anything to do with the ref.” Joshua Gateley/Getty Photographs
With the overlooked alternative in Oklahoma Town at the back of them, the Lakers became their center of attention to Wednesday’s sport in Dallas. As vital as the sport is for playoff seeding, the competition will tackle a far better that means with Doncic’s go back to Dallas for the reason that Mavericks integrated him as a part of a three-team industry with the Lakers and Utah Jazz to procure Anthony Davis and Max Christie on Feb. 2.
“There is going to be a large number of emotion for me,” Doncic stated. “I do not truly know what to anticipate. I do not know the way I will really feel, truthfully. I am taking a look ahead to being again in Dallas, clearly, with the fanatics, seeing my teammates — ex-teammates. It will be very emotional for me, evidently.”
James, who expected a heat reception from the Mavericks fanatics who rooted for Doncic all through the primary seven seasons of his NBA occupation, stated the Lakers would ensure Doncic felt their strengthen it doesn’t matter what the surroundings was once like.
“I believe it is essential,” James stated. “I imply, it is camaraderie. It is protecting every different down every time we are facing anything else. And I believe the next day to come’s going to be a large number of feelings going via Luka, each the internal after which external. And it is our activity simply to do our activity. If we do our activity at the flooring, then we will assist him drastically.”
And within the procedure, assist out their playoff positioning with a win with handiest 3 video games left within the common season.
“We’d like two out of the 3 to fasten within the 3rd spot,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves stated. “We are going to move compete and play like we have now the ultimate couple video games, as a result of we wish to keep the place we are at [in the standings].”
