Doncic faces one-game ban after technical foul in Lakers’ win against Nets basketball news

Luka Doncic’s 41 points against the Nets were spoiled by his 16th technical foul of the season, resulting in a one-game ban.

Luka Doncic had a game-high 41 points and eight rebounds while also receiving his suspension-triggering 16th technical foul during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Austin Reaves scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers finally pulled away from the young Nets to earn their 11th win in 12 games. LeBron James added 14 points and eight assists for the Lakers in their comeback from a 5-1 road trip that has moved them into third place in the Western Conference standings.

Josh Minot had 18 points and six rebounds in Brooklyn’s 10th consecutive loss. Nick Claxton and Ziaire Williams led the Nets’ lively effort with 16 points each, but both starters along with Noah Clowney were benched for the entire fourth quarter.

The young Nets still hung with the road-tired Lakers until the final minutes, erasing an early double-digit deficit and taking the lead heading into the fourth quarter of their 20th loss in 22 games overall.

Doncic hit five 3-pointers during his 15th 40-point game of the season, but the Slovenian superstar was in foul trouble when he and Williams were whistled for double technical fouls in the third quarter.

Williams was celebrating the offensive foul called against Doncic by yelling happily in Doncic’s personal space. When Doncic moved to push Williams’ arm, Williams responded by taking a backhand swipe at Doncic’s face.

Unless Doncic’s technical is overturned, he will be suspended for one game. He was ejected on a technicality just last week after being whistled for a verbal altercation with Orlando’s Goga Bitadze.

Bronny James played with his famous father for the second consecutive game, with LeBron getting the first father-son assist in NBA history on Bronny’s 3-pointer in the second quarter. Bronny has been largely limited to mop-up action in his first two NBA seasons, but he has earned rotation minutes this week in the injury absence of Marcus Smart.

Bronny and Williams played together in high school at Sierra Canyon School in suburban Los Angeles.