Why Is Luka Doncic Suspended for Lakers vs. Wizards Amid 2026 NBA Playoff Race?

The NBA announced Saturday that Luka Dončić received a one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during the Los Angeles Lakers' 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Dončić and Nets forward Ziaire Williams were given double technical fouls after briefly jostling in the third quarter of the contest.

The six-time All-Star will now miss Los Angeles' clash with the Washington Wizards on Monday.

Dončić also faces another one-game suspension for every two additional technical fouls that he receives.

The 27-year-old didn't seem to agree with his latest technical following Friday's contest.

"[Williams] was yelling in my face—three times," Dončić said after the game, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I just wanted to get out of there. It's a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn't even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed, my push was 'exaggerated,' which [it] was obviously not. And I don't know what else to tell you."

He put together a strong performance against Brooklyn despite the technical foul, finishing with 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting. Dončić also recorded eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

He was previously given his 16th technical foul of the 2025-26 season during a victory over the Orlando Magic on March 21. It was eventually rescinded following a league review, though.

While the Lakers should still have high expectations heading into a clash with a Wizards squad that sits at 17-56, they'll need to remain sharp offensively without Dončić leading the way.

Los Angeles currently holds the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings with a 48-26 record, owning a 1.5-game lead over the Denver Nuggets at No. 4.

Tip-off between the Lakers and Wizards on Monday is at 10 p.m. ET.