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4mo ago

Lakers Fall to Thunder After Luka Doncic’s Controversial Ejection

A disputed fourth-quarter ejection of Luka Doncic led to a 136-120 loss for the Lakers, raising questions about officiating and momentum as the playoffs near.

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LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on April 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Lakers stars Luka Doncic (77) and LeBron James (23) speak to an official during the second half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder as teammate Austin Reaves, far right, looks on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. Doncic was ejected after receiving a second technical foul. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The Lakers suffered a 136-120 defeat to the Thunder after Luka Doncic was ejected in the fourth quarter for a second technical foul following a disputed exchange with officials.
  • Doncic claimed he was trash-talking a courtside fan, but officials stated he directed vulgar language at them, a call that has sparked debate over the fairness of the decision.
  • The Thunder capitalized on Doncic's absence, outscoring the Lakers 29-12 in the final 7:40, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 42 points.
  • LeBron James and Austin Reaves contributed 28 and 24 points respectively, but the Lakers struggled to maintain their lead after Doncic’s dismissal.
  • The loss comes just before Doncic’s highly anticipated return to Dallas, adding further scrutiny to the Lakers’ playoff readiness and player availability concerns.