Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic avoids suspension after NBA rescinds 16th technical foul

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The NBA reversed the technical foul that Luka Doncic was called for during the Mavericks' win over Portland.

The league office made the determination Saturday after a review of what would have been Doncic's 16th technical foul of the season, which triggered an automatic suspension. The game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday will determine whether the Mavs are the third or fourth seed in the Western Conference.

The slate is wiped clean for the playoffs when players are suspended for a game after seven technical fouls.

The Dallas Mavericks are a half-game behind the third-place Golden State Warriors, who play the Spurs on Saturday. The Mavs own the tie-breaker.

After a no-call at the end of the first quarter, Tony Brothers called Doncic for a technical foul. The second technical foul against Doncic was taken away by the league office.

Doncic said that it should be revoked because it wasn't a tech at all. I asked him how that wasn't a call, so I can play on Sunday.

At the end of the first quarter, the Mavs had a 36-13 lead over the Blazers, and Doncic was upset that a foul was not called on his half-court heave. Doncic tried to get the attention of the referee while on his back, after he was undercut by Portland's Hughes on the play.

After getting up, Doncic walked across the court to talk to Brothers, despite the efforts of Finney-Smith to hold him back. Brothers called Doncic for a technical problem.

Brothers said that at the end of the quarter he took a shot and felt he got a foul. He got a technical for continuously complaining when I was walking toward the table, because he was 15 feet in the backcourt still complaining.

Brothers said there was no profanity used.

Doncic, who was called for 17 technical fouls last season but avoided a suspension because two were rescinded, said he didn't know why he got a tech. I don't know how I got a tech there.