Lakers' Luka Doncic Faces One Game Suspension for 16th Technical

Merlin sees Luka Dončić facing a one-game suspension after his 16th technical foul in a third-quarter altercation with Ziaire Williams. If the call stands he will miss Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards. The NBA previously rescinded a March 21 technical on Dončić, but the Lakers are jostling for position in the West at 47-26 and rely on his league-leading 33.6 points per game. Merlin notes the chop in momentum a single absence can cause. Losing a 33.6-point, 8.3-assist, 7.8-rebound force would tilt one matchup and could nudge seeding lines. The league has overturned similar calls, so a rescind is possible, yet emotions have caught stars before. Expect Los Angeles to push for review and to tinker lineups to cover the gap.