Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is facing a one-game suspension after being called for his 16th technical foul of the season during Sunday’s road game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Doncic was whistled for a technical foul with 7:51 remaining in the third quarter for arguing a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to the basket. Unless the league office rescinds the technical, Doncic will serve the suspension Monday night, when the Mavs play the Indiana Pacers on the road.
Players automatically get a one-game suspension after 16 technical fouls each season, and for every two technicals thereafter. Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (twice) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green have served suspensions due to their technicals totals this season.
Doncic has narrowly avoided a suspension the last two years, finishing each of those seasons with 15 technical fouls. He had a technical foul rescinded before last year’s regular-season finale.
Sunday’s techincal foul comes two days after Doncic was fined by the league for rubbing his fingers together, in an apparent reference to money, during last week’s loss to the Warriors.
The Mavs currently sit outside the Western Conference play-in race at 36-38 with eight games to go.