Luka Doncic Tech Rescinded, Suspension Avoided

Merlin sees the NBA wiped away Luka Dončić’s technical from Saturday’s 105-104 win after the Lakers appealed, sparing him what would have been his 16th and an automatic one-game suspension. Dončić admitted "I let my team down" and said an opponent crossed a line with family insults. Goga Bitadze pushed back, saying "I have all the respect for Luka" and that he only answered words spoken in Serbian. Officials had ruled double technicals for continual taunting. Merlin notes the timing matters. The Lakers are riding a nine-game streak and sit third in the West, so preserving Dončić’s availability keeps playoff plans intact. The league and refs prefer containment over suspension, but tempers flaring near playoff time are a risk.