Luka Doncic’s frustration boiled over in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, resulting in his ejection from the game. Despite his 23-point performance, Doncic’s ejection left the Lakers scrambling as they saw a close game slip away, ultimately being outscored 29-12 in the final stretch.
The Lakers were in striking distance when Doncic was tossed for his second technical foul after a verbal exchange with a courtside Thunder fan. The Lakers had just pulled within one point, 107-108, when the controversial moment unfolded. Following his exit, the Thunder capitalized on the opportunity, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge to secure the win.
“We were right there,” Doncic said. “We fought the whole game. We came back in the third quarter, we were fighting, man. It was tough to see that, especially with the situation that happened. That’s on me too. I can’t let my team down like that.”
This loss marked a significant setback for the Lakers, who had been in the hunt for better seeding as the regular season winds down. Despite the setback, Doncic remained proud of his teammates’ effort. “I was really proud of everyone,” he said. “We were all a little banged up, but we decided to go out there and compete. We’re fighting for the best seeding we can get.”
The game also marked a crucial lead-up to Wednesday’s highly anticipated matchup between the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, the team Doncic was traded from in February. With emotions running high, Doncic is set to face his former teammates in what promises to be an emotional return to Dallas.
Doncic’s ejection aside, the Lakers faced a challenging night against an Oklahoma City team on a roll. Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 42 points, leading the Thunder to their 65th win of the season. The Thunder also broke a franchise record for wins in a season, surpassing the 1995-96 Seattle SuperSonics.
Jalen Williams added 26 points, helping to fill the void after the Lakers had trimmed the deficit. On the other side, LeBron James continued his strong play with 28 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, though it wasn’t enough to overcome the Thunder’s late surge. Austin Reaves chipped in with 24 points, including four three-pointers.
The Thunder shot a blistering 50% from the field, including 14-of-26 from beyond the arc, while also dominating the glass, winning the rebound battle 45-44. Despite the loss, the Lakers showed flashes of resilience, particularly when Doncic hit a deep three-pointer to briefly give Los Angeles an 88-86 lead in the third quarter.
“The crowd was into it, and they have a great team,” Doncic said. “But it showed what kind of team we are. I think we’re a pretty good team.”
The Lakers’ struggles were magnified by turnovers in the final frame, as they committed six in the fourth quarter alone. The absence of Doncic proved costly in the closing moments as the Thunder seized control of the game.
Now, the Lakers (48-31) sit third in the Western Conference, but their playoff positioning remains uncertain. They are just one game ahead of a tight four-way tie for fourth place. With a crucial game ahead in Dallas, the Purple and Gold will need to regroup quickly.
