During the third quarter of Saturday’s game between the Magic and Lakers at Kia Center, technical fouls were assessed to Orlando center Goga Bitadze and Los Angeles star Luka Doncic.

It wasn’t until after the game, however, that more context was provided about the back-and-forth interaction between the two players.

Speaking at the podium after the Lakers won by one point in the final moments, 105-104, thanks to a Luke Kennard 3-pointer, Doncic claimed Bitadze had choice words in Serbian for him about his family.

“He said at the free throw, he would (expletive) my whole family,” said Doncic who scored 33 points on the road. “And at some point, this is basketball … At some point, I just can’t stand it. I gotta stand up for myself. But I know I gotta do better.”

In a phone interview with the Orlando Sentinel and ESPN after Doncic spoke to the media, Bitadze shared his side of the story when he was asked about the interaction.

“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done,” Bitadze said. “And I really respect everybody’s family. Where I come from, it’s really sacred and we really respect each other’s families, and I would never directly say that. He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia. I understand, I don’t know if he knew I understood what he said. So I just said it back. And it was nothing towards his family or anybody. His family, I really, truly respect them and that’s pretty much it.

“I’m a fan of his game and don’t want to look like it was directed to his family, or anything,” Bitadze added. “It was just in the heat of the moment. I heard what he said, and I felt like I had to respond the same way. So, from my side, if he feels like I said something too much or crossed the line, I apologize as a man. I can take (accountability), but I didn’t say anything but what he said. What he came out and said, I don’t think that’s the truth. I know that’s not the truth. So, I know what I said and that was pretty much it in the heat of the moment. So like I said, some things were said, and I apologize if it crossed the line.”

Bitadze was then asked to clarify what Doncic said to him first and what he subsequently repeated back to him.

“Well, he said something about my mother,” Bitadze said. “Which, it’s really inappropriate. We don’t say that stuff during the game. So, I don’t know if he knew that I understood his language or not. So I just said whatever he told me or (about) my mother (and) said it back. That was pretty much it.”

The technical foul served as Doncic’s 16th of the regular season, meaning he’ll get suspended for one game without pay.

Dan Woike of The Athletic reported that the Lakers have already appealed the technical foul. If the team loses the appeal, Doncic will be suspended for Monday’s game against the Pistons.

NBA crew chief Marc Davis shared with a pool reporter after the game why double technicals were issued for Doncic and Bitadze in the third quarter.

“Both Doncic and Bitadze were both assessed technical fouls for their continual taunting of one another,” Davis said. “They were both warned to cease their comments directed towards one another between the two free throws. After the free throw and as the ball entered the frontcourt, they were both correctly assessed technical fouls for their unsportsmanlike comments directed towards one another.”

Bitadze’s technical was his fifth of the season. Bitadze recorded nine points, seven rebounds and five assists in 18 minutes Saturday.

“My teammates, I know they have my back, so I let them down today,” Doncic said about the moment. “But hopefully, it gets rescinded.”

The Magic host Bitadze’s former team, the Pacers, on Monday, searching to snap a four-game losing streak.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com