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[Saba Sports News] Luka Doncic was left stunned after being ejected from Tuesday’s high-profile showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With 7:42 remaining, Doncic hit a tough floater to put the Lakers ahead 108-107. On his way back down the court, he directed some trash talk toward a courtside fan at Paycom Center.
But referee J.T. Orr apparently believed Doncic’s words were aimed at him, issuing the Lakers star a technical foul.
Since Doncic had already picked up a technical in the third quarter, the second one meant an automatic ejection. He exited the game with 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
His departure marked a turning point, as the Lakers unraveled without their Slovenian leader. The Thunder surged to close the game on a dominant 29-12 run, sealing a 136-120 victory.
The Lakers had blown out OKC 126-99 in the same arena just two nights earlier, and while they dropped the rematch, head coach JJ Redick’s squad showed it can go toe-to-toe with one of the league’s top teams.
With L.A. likely headed for a top-four seed, a playoff clash with the Thunder in May is starting to feel inevitable.