{"id":133348,"date":"2025-04-09T00:44:35","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T04:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=133348"},"modified":"2025-04-09T00:44:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T04:44:35","slug":"luka-doncic-ejection-lakers-playoffs-nba-officiating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/09\/luka-doncic-ejection-lakers-playoffs-nba-officiating\/","title":{"rendered":"Luka Doncic Ejection Could Affect Lakers Playoffs and NBA Officiating"},"content":{"rendered":"

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, <\/span>Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a> was ejected.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>issued a technical on Doncic<\/span><\/a>\u2014Luka\u2019s second of the game, sending him to the showers in the heat of a crucial battle.<\/span><\/p>\n

The league-leading <\/span>Thunder outscored the Lakers 29-12<\/span><\/a> from that point on, handing LA a 136-120 loss behind <\/span>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/span><\/a>\u2019s 42 points. Doncic\u2019s controversial ejection has raised questions over the rough state of NBA officiating and whether a similar situation could harm LA in the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luka Doncic Ejection Could Affect Lakers Playoffs and NBA Officiating<\/b><\/h2>\n

Reaction to Luka Doncic\u2019s Ejection<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head coach JJ Redick seemed to call out Orr in his postgame press conference, hinting that call changed the game’s trajectory.<\/span><\/p>\n

“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\u2019 parts,” <\/span>Redick said<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doncic explained his side of the story postgame. <\/span>\u201cI never got a fan ejected, never,” he said<\/a>. But when you talk, I\u2019m gonna talk back, always. It had nothing to do with the ref. I didn\u2019t really understand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

LeBron James<\/span><\/a> noted that Doncic\u2019s ejection led to \u201ca weird couple of minutes\u201d afterward. <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know why the ref was taking it personal,\u201d he added<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Thunder Fan\u2019s Perspective<\/b><\/h4>\n

ESPN\u2019s Dave McMenamin tracked down the Thunder fan Doncic fired back at: Jeremy Price, who has a <\/span>history of talking trash to Doncic<\/span><\/a> dating back to last year\u2019s playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDuring 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\u2019d him up,” <\/span>Price told McMenamin<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked if Orr thought Luka\u2019s remarks were aimed at him instead, <\/span>Price acknowledged<\/span><\/a> it could be a possibility, appearing to echo criticisms by Redick, James and a multitude of fans in the incident\u2019s aftermath.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding Fuel to the Officiating Fire<\/b><\/h3>\n

Doncic\u2019s 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\u2019s direction. It took the fire away from the Lakers and, to an extent, the game as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

J.T. Orr needs to be fined for that egregious ejection. Completely swayed the game\u2019s momentum. Cmon @OfficialNBARefs<\/a> do better pic.twitter.com\/VZAHPW5HuI<\/a><\/p>\n

— Hickman L.A. (@RealHickmanLA) April 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n