Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic will miss the team’s upcoming matchup against the Washington Wizards on Monday, March 30, after receiving a one-game suspension without pay. The NBA announced the decision on Saturday, March 28, following Doncic’s 16th technical foul of the 2025-26 season.
The latest technical was assessed with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on March 27 at Crypto.com Arena.
James Jones, NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, confirmed the suspension aligns with league rules stipulating an automatic one-game ban once a player reaches 16 technical fouls in a regular season.
Doncic, 27, has started all 62 games this season, averaging 33.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per contest while shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range. He remains the team’s leading scorer and primary playmaker, with significant contributions from Austin Reaves and LeBron James helping maintain the Lakers’ 48-26 record.
The suspension represents a potential challenge for the Lakers as they continue their push for the Western Conference’s top playoff positions. The team currently holds the third seed, trailing the Thunder and Spurs, while maintaining a nine-game win streak in their last ten contests.
Washington, sitting at 17-56 in the Eastern Conference, presents a matchup where the Lakers can test their depth without their star guard.
Under NBA regulations, any additional technical fouls beyond the 16th result in further automatic suspensions: every two subsequent infractions incur another one-game ban.
