Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
Dallas Mavericks giant name Luka Doncic said the hit that led to his ejection for the duration of Sunday night’s game in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers wasn’t completed intentionally.
Doncic used to be tossed early within the third quarter after hitting Collin Sexton within the groin while boxing out on a shot from Isaac Okoro.
“After I noticed the video, I knew I hit him, nonetheless it used to be nothing on purpose,” he urged reporters. “I remark that roughly stuff happens a lot within the video games, nonetheless I create no longer know. That is my explanation. It obviously used to be no longer on purpose.”
The resolution used to be ruled a flagrant-2 contemptible and does no longer depend toward the technical fouls which were called on Doncic this season. One extra technical contemptible and he will draw a one-game suspension.
Sexton regarded as if it would trust Doncic’s evaluation of the incident.
“It used to be true a box-out play,” he urged reporters. “Generally at any time when anyone is hand-checking, then you positively punch down or swing down. It used to be true within the groin, nonetheless it’s all correct.”
Doncic had 15 factors, five rebounds, five assists and some NBA ancient previous forward of he used to be tossed, changing into the third player within the league to publish 5,000 factors, 1,500 assists and 1,500 rebounds in his first three seasons within the league (h/t Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning Data).
The Mavericks went on to draw a 124-97 purchase.
The ejection used to be Doncic’s 2d in five video games. In a Might per chance 2 loss to the Sacramento Kings, he used to be whistled for 2 technical fouls.
After he earned his 15th of the season in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, Doncic said he wished to withhold his emotions in compare when going via officials.
“It’s something that I am no longer supposed to enact, with the complete sentiments in video games, nonetheless obviously I’ve received to cease,” he urged reporters. “It’s true hard for me on the court docket with the complete sentiments, nonetheless I do know it and I’ve received to work on this. It’s traumatic to enact it, nonetheless I’ve received to work on it and be methodology better than this.”
With the Mavericks sure for the postseason at 40-28—correct for the fifth seed within the Western Conference—losing their top player at any point down the highway will enjoy extreme consequences.
