Luka Doncic slipped up in Indianapolis. The Dallas Mavericks rookie picked up his first career ejection against the Indiana Pacers in January. It was a blemish on an otherwise remarkable introduction to the United States for the young Slovenian, who is enjoying one of the best teenage seasons in NBA history. It was a needless infraction, a cultural misunderstanding when two sports—basketball and football—collided. Something was lost in translation.
The Mavericks lost the game 111-99. Doncic had a poor night at work, shooting 3-of-14 and missing all five of his three-point attempts. With three minutes left in the third quarter, the Pacers made a layup to extend their lead to 13 points.