
Luka Doncic was tossed from Tuesday evening’s 136-120 loss to the OKC Thunder after selecting up two technical fouls. With one already to his identify, Doncic was ejected after jawing with a fan following a made bucket.
Referee J.T. Orr, who was standing close by in the course of the alternate, hit Doncic with the second technical for his interplay with a member of the group, sending the Mavs star to the locker room.
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The decision drew the ire of Lakers followers, particularly given the playoff implications as LA continues pushing to safe the No. 3 seed within the West.
“JT Orr must be investigated like Eric Lewis,” one consumer posted, referencing the previous NBA official who retired in 2023 after a probe into his use of a burner account defending refs on-line, violating league guidelines.
“STOP CONTROLLING THE GAME,” one other Lakers fan commented.
“Refs in opposition to the lakers,” one other stated.
Listed here are different reactions:
“J.T. Orr immediately surpasses Tony Brothers,” one stated.
“I nonetheless can’t imagine that ejection by JT Orr,” one other commented.
“I should not know who JT Orr is, however he mainly prices the Lakers this sport due to his fast set off,” one other added.
Orr additionally assessed a technical foul on Jarred Vanderbilt later within the sport after the Lakers ahead stared down Alex Caruso.
Lakers run out of steam after Luka Doncic ejection, fall vs OKC
The LA Lakers had been clinging to a 108-107 lead when Luka Doncic was ejected, however from that time, they had been outscored 31-12 within the closing stretch.
Doncic had 23 factors and 5 assists on 7-of-15 capturing earlier than his exit, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves stepping up for the Lakers with 28 and 24 factors respectively. Nonetheless, it wasn’t sufficient to face up to a livid OKC end.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, within the Thunder’s closing dwelling sport of the common season, powered OKC with 42 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists. OKC outscored LA 39-22 within the fourth to finish their two-game skid and notch their sixty fifth win.
Jalen Williams added 26 factors and Lu Dort chipped in 17.
Up subsequent for the Lakers: a back-to-back in opposition to Luka Doncic’s former staff, the Dallas Mavericks, adopted by video games in opposition to the Houston Rockets and Portland Path Blazers.