SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Luka Doncic made sure arena security noticed a courtside spectator who hurled the ball at a referee Wednesday night, and the man was escorted out of Golden 1 Center as the Los Angeles Lakers went on to beat Sacramento 116-103.
The incident came with 2:35 to play in the third quarter. When a Sacramento giveaway sent the ball skipping past the baseline, the fan grabbed it and threw it hard at official Chelisa Painter, who knocked it away with her hands. Doncic, preparing to inbound, pointed the man out and waved over game officials and security, who walked him out. Play resumed with only a short pause, and Doncic checked on Painter, who answered with a thumbs-up.
After the game, Doncic said he confronted the man because the throw at the referee was far too forceful. As of Thursday morning, neither team had released a statement identifying the fan.
Painter is in her first season on the full-time NBA officiating staff. The league moved her up from the G League along with two other referees in an announcement on Oct. 14.
On the court, Doncic finished with 40 points on 11-of-23 shooting, plus nine rebounds and seven assists. Austin Reaves scored 21 and Walker Kessler had 15 points and eight rebounds. Los Angeles was up seven at halftime and pulled away after the break.
Darius Acuff Jr. paced Sacramento with 22 points and 12 assists, Zach LaVine added 21, and Domantas Sabonis posted 16 points and 17 rebounds.
The Lakers have won three straight to improve to 7-2 and play Portland on Friday. The Kings are 1-7 and remain 0-3 at home this season.
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