Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton picked up back-to-back technical fouls and was ejected a couple minutes before halftime of Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The technicals came as a result of Walton vehemently protesting a foul call on Kyle Kuzma.
Frustrated himself, the rookie forward drew a technical foul for his reaction to the whistle — a jump in the air and fake slam of the ball into the ground. Walton came storming across the court, drawing his first technical, and continued to argue.
He had already been frustrated by earlier events, as Isaiah Thomas and Rajon Rondo drew two sets of double-technical fouls, earning themselves ejections. The second technicals that were issued came rather quickly and as a result of Rondo continuing to serve as an instigator.
Walton attempted to plead his case over that fact, though it was to no avail. He now has eight technical fouls on the season, which trail only Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholze for most in the league.
With Walton no longer on the bench, Brian Shaw assumed the role of head coach. Shaw went 56-85 in his two seasons as coach of the Denver Nuggets. This season is his 10th as an assistant with the Lakers.
The Lakers trailed the Pelicans, 79-66, at the start of the third quarter. Their deficit grew to as many as 23 points in the first half.
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