During a Tuesday night clash between the Lakers and Thunder, the Lakers led 108-107 with seven minutes left the fourth. It was a prime opportunity for LA to make their third seed dreams a reality. Then, Luka Doncic was ejected.
Doncic, known as much for his competitive nature as his elite scoring, nailed a two-point jumper to give LA the lead when he responded to a heckling Thunder fan sitting courtside. Referee J.T. Orr, who was caught in the crossfire, promptly issued a technical on Doncic—Luka’s second of the game, sending him to the showers in the heat of a crucial battle.
The league-leading Thunder outscored the Lakers 29-12 from that point on, handing LA a 136-120 loss behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 42 points. Doncic’s controversial ejection has raised questions over the rough state of NBA officiating and whether a similar situation could harm LA in the playoffs.
Luka Doncic Ejection Could Affect Lakers Playoffs and NBA Officiating
Reaction to Luka Doncic’s Ejection
Head coach JJ Redick seemed to call out Orr in his postgame press conference, hinting that call changed the game’s trajectory.
“It was a great game that, unfortunately, didn’t get to sort of finish out the way that I think every basketball fan would want because of some decision making on some individuals’ parts,” Redick said.
Doncic explained his side of the story postgame. “I never got a fan ejected, never,” he said. But when you talk, I’m gonna talk back, always. It had nothing to do with the ref. I didn’t really understand.”
LeBron James noted that Doncic’s ejection led to “a weird couple of minutes” afterward. “I don’t know why the ref was taking it personal,” he added.
The Thunder Fan’s Perspective
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin tracked down the Thunder fan Doncic fired back at: Jeremy Price, who has a history of talking trash to Doncic dating back to last year’s playoffs.
“During the game within the game, I mentioned that he was short and he missed it and he turned around and he shot an explicative [sic] back and J.T. [Orr] happened to see it and that point, T’d him up,” Price told McMenamin.
When asked if Orr thought Luka’s remarks were aimed at him instead, Price acknowledged it could be a possibility, appearing to echo criticisms by Redick, James and a multitude of fans in the incident’s aftermath.
Adding Fuel to the Officiating Fire
Doncic’s ejection is the latest in a series of seemingly soft ejections as of late. Amid a down-to-the-wire contest between the Lakers and Thunder, the call completely swung the momentum in OKC’s direction. It took the fire away from the Lakers and, to an extent, the game as a whole.
J.T. Orr needs to be fined for that egregious ejection. Completely swayed the game’s momentum. Cmon @OfficialNBARefs do better pic.twitter.com/VZAHPW5HuI
— Hickman L.A. (@RealHickmanLA) April 9, 2025
It’s unlikely the league rescinds Doncic’s second technical, something they’ve done several times this season to other NBA stars. However, the incident highlights continued controversy around the state of NBA officiating. Other stars were ejected for less egregious offenses (e.g. Jayson Tatum for arguing with a ref or Anthony Edwards for spiking a ball into the stands). Doncic’s case is not only unjust in the eyes of fans, but also arguably the main reason the game shifted the way it did.
The critiques around officiating also come just in time for the playoffs, when refs’ decisions could sway games in pivotal moments. This ejection, among others, should serve as a checkpoint for the league and its officials, whose calls (or lack thereof) could make or break the outcome of a series, especially with several star-powered teams vying for a championship.
Doncic’s Behavior Could Cost Lakers
At the same time, as Tuesday night’s incident proved, Doncic’s trash talking is only tolerable for so long. In a postseason environment filled with high stakes and higher emotions, there’s always a chance a similar situation could unfold. That’s something Doncic and the Lakers cannot afford.
Not every official may come to a swift decision like Orr did. Still, Luka’s behavior could still lead to momentum-killing techs for himself and the team. The NBA allows up to 16 technical fouls before a player serves a one-game suspension. Doncic is already at nine techs with the Lakers and 14 on the season.
The Lakers and Doncic should hope that his future smack talk doesn’t bite them in the playoffs. While the team may be capable of performing without Luka, doing so after his ejection was far from ideal. The purple and gold don’t want to scramble in a postseason series where every choice is magnified. While Doncic may be right to respond to courtside fans, it’s better to turn things down a notch and let his game speak for itself.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
