The Los Angeles Lakers suffered another frustrating loss, this time against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, March 13. Already missing LeBron James, they struggled to keep up with the Bucks’ offensive push, falling 126-106.
However, it wasn’t just the defeat that had people talking—Luka Dončić’s battle with officiating once again became a major talking point.
JJ Redick Calls Out ‘Tough’ Whistle on Dončić
Dončić went on a scoring spree, dropping 45 points along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists. He had 29 of those points by halftime and shot 14-of-27 from the field while making 10-of-12 free throws. But despite his efforts, the Lakers couldn’t match the Bucks, who had five players scoring in double figures.
After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t hold back when discussing the officiating. As per the X handle, Lakers Nation, Redick pointed out that Dončić hasn’t been getting fair calls, something that has been frustrating for the team.
“I think he gets a tough whistle. That’s a fact,” Redick said, making it clear that Dončić’s struggles with officiating aren’t just in his head.
When talking about Luka Doncic, JJ Redick stated:
"I think he gets a tough whistle. That's a fact."
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) March 14, 2025
The Lakers attempted only 18 free throws, making 15, while the Bucks had a significant advantage at the line, going 27-of-33. This difference, combined with Dončić’s repeated frustrations, added fuel to the discussion around inconsistent officiating.
Officiating Woes Have Been a Recurring Issue for Lakers
This wasn’t the first time Dončić felt the officials weren’t on his side. In the Lakers’ previous game against the Brooklyn Nets—a 111-108 loss—he also struggled with the calls.
During the third quarter, Dončić drove aggressively to the basket expecting a foul call, but when he didn’t get it, he threw his arms up in frustration. Moments later, he was hit with a technical foul, further adding to his and the Lakers’ frustrations.
In the post game conference, Luka vented his anger stating:
“Yeah, in the end, it was a lot. It wasn’t fair,” Dončić said. “But, you know, you have to keep playing the game. I have to keep playing the game. But it was a lot, I won’t lie.”
When pressed about what he meant with “wasn’t fair” he said:
“I’m not gonna say anything, but everyone saw the game and knows what happened.”
Against the Bucks, Dončić did get to the free-throw line more often, but Redick’s comments suggest that the Lakers still believe their star isn’t getting the respect he deserves from officials.
Beyond the officiating debate, the Bucks were simply the better team on the night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. Brook Lopez added 23 points, while Damian Lillard and Kevin Porter Jr. each contributed 22 and 23 points. Lillard also had 10 assists and 6 rebounds.
For the Lakers, Austin Reaves supported Luka with 28 points, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the absence of LeBron, who missed his second straight game due to a left groin strain. The Lakers were also without Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura.
With three straight losses and ongoing officiating frustrations, the Lakers will need to regroup quickly to stay competitive in the playoff race.