NEW YORK — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has avoided a one-game suspension for now after the NBA rescinded his 16th technical foul Monday.
The league’s decision cleared Doncic to play at Indiana on Monday night as the fading Mavericks try to stay in the Western Conference playoff race.
Dallas entered the game against the Pacers 11th in the West, one spot out of the play-in tournament a year after going to the conference finals.
The Mavericks entered Monday on a four-game losing streak, including consecutive losses to lowly Charlotte. Doncic got the technical that was rescinded in the second of those losses Sunday.
The technical came with 7:51 remaining in the third quarter of a 110-104 loss when Doncic argued a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to the basket.
Crew chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report after the game that Doncic used “a profanity directed at the officials in protest to a no-call that was correctly judged in postgame video review.”
It’s the second time Doncic has had a technical foul rescinded this season.
After the first loss to the Hornets in Dallas last week, Doncic said he was as frustrated as he’s been in his stellar five-year career that has included four trips to the All-Star game.
Doncic hinted at off-court issues that were taking the joy out of the game, but wouldn’t elaborate beyond saying it was in his private life.
The 24-year-old shared those thoughts the same day he was fined $35,000 for making a money gesture toward the refs when he was apparently upset over a non-call on his missed layup in the final seconds.
“I think you can see it with me on the court,” Doncic said. “Sometimes I don’t feel it’s me. I used to have really fun, smiling on court, but it’s just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball.”
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