Luka Doncic's explanation after the expulsion that cost the Lakers the defeat

Luka Doncic was ejected in the fourth quarter of the game that the Los Angeles Lakers lost 136-120 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, after a confusing episode with a referee who mistakenly interpreted a discussion between the Slovenian and a fan sitting courtside.

"I've never had a fan thrown out," Doncic said after the game. "Never. But if someone talks to me, I'll respond, as always. This had nothing to do with the referee. So honestly, I didn't get it."

The incident occurred with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter with the Lakers leading 108-107. It was then that referee J.T. Orr gave him his second technical foul of the game, leading to an automatic ejection. The first technical had come in the third quarter after Doncic protested a non-called foul on his teammate Jarred Vanderbilt.

After Doncic's ejection, Oklahoma City took control of the game with a final 29-12 run, securing a victory that strengthens their NBA leadership with a record of 65-14.

According to Tony Brothers, head of the officiating crew, the first technical was because Doncic "used profane language directed at an official." Regarding the second technical, he explained that the player "stared directly at a referee and used vulgar language."

However, Jeremy Price, the involved fan who goes by "The Courtside Tattoo Dude," told ESPN that Doncic was addressing him, not the referee. "I told him he missed a shot, and when he failed, he turned around and cursed at me. Right then, J.T. saw it and blew the technical," Price explained. He also mentioned that last year he had a similar encounter with Doncic during the playoff series between Thunder and Mavericks.

Vanderbilt supported his teammate, stating that Doncic was simply objecting to an obvious foul: "I got hit in the head. He just told it to the referee. But the referee responded to him, 'I can talk to anyone but you, Luka.' It felt personal."

The ejection marked a turning point in a game that had all the playoff atmosphere between the third-placed team in the West, the Lakers, and the outright leader, Oklahoma City.

"Both teams knew this was like a postseason game," said LeBron James. "It had that intensity, that atmosphere. But after that, the game got weird."

On his part, Lakers coach JJ Redick regretted the outcome: "It was a great game that, unfortunately, did not end as any basketball fan would have liked, due to decisions by certain individuals."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La explicación de Luka Doncic tras la expulsión que le costó la derrota a los Lakers