Doncic Sidelines Highlight Lakers' Injury Woes Amid Tough Schedule
Luka Doncic won’t be suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers as they wrap up their four-game road trip facing the Denver Nuggets on Friday. The Lakers revealed that their star guard is dealing with ongoing issues from a left calf injury and an ankle sprain on his right side. Doncic becomes the latest addition to a Lakers’ injury list that already includes key players like LeBron James, who’s coping with a groin strain, Rui Hachimura battling tendinitis in his knee, and Jaxson Hayes suffering from a knee contusion, all of whom returned to Los Angeles early for treatment.
Reflecting on his current performance, Doncic, who scored 45 points in the Lakers’ recent defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks, admits he hasn’t reached his peak level of play since joining the Lakers. “Every day, a little bit more,” Doncic expressed, conceding that he still needs time to recuperate before he feels fully ready to meet his high standards.
On Friday, the Lakers further announced that Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, and Trey Jemison III would not be available for the Nuggets game due to injuries and illness. The Lakers, who haven’t secured a win during the present road trip, started a grueling segment of their schedule, which includes six games over eight days, with a substantial loss to the Bucks. This tough stretch has seen them slip from second to fourth in the Western Conference standings, with the Houston Rockets closing in at fifth.
The Lakers will return home for back-to-back games against the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and Monday, followed by another set on Wednesday and Thursday against Denver and Milwaukee. Despite wearing a sizeable ice wrap on his wrist and hand after the Bucks match, Austin Reaves, not currently listed on the injury report, relayed that coach JJ Redick reminded the team not to lose hope, given their recent successful run. “We were on a good streak,” Reaves said. “Injuries have been a setback, but no one’s going to take it easy on us. Teams will aim to beat us by a wide margin, and it’s up to us to figure out how to stop them and remain competitive. It’s about facing this challenge head-on.”