The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a rough setback in their recent matchup against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers. Already missing starters Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton, the team saw star guard Luka Dončić exit the game with a lower left leg contusion, compounding an already injury-depleted lineup.
Luka Dončić Listed Day-to-Day
Head coach JJ Redick provided the latest update on Dončić’s status Monday.
“Luka Dončić is being listed as day-to-day going forward with a lower left leg contusion,” reported NBA insider Marc Stein on X (formerly Twitter).
The Slovenian superstar, the NBA’s leading scorer at 34.1 points per game, had 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists in just 19 minutes on Saturday before leaving the game at halftime. While he missed his first six shots and picked up a technical foul, his absence underscores how thin the Lakers’ roster is heading into the coming week.
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Lakers Coping With Multiple Injuries
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In addition to Dončić, Redick confirmed that Rui Hachimura (groin) remains day-to-day. Austin Reaves (left calf) and Deandre Ayton (left elbow) were not ruled out for the Lakers’ next matchup against the Phoenix Suns, leaving some uncertainty about the lineup. Reaves participated partially in Monday’s practice, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports, giving the team hope that he may be available.
“Just looking at how we move forward, we’ll see how Luka and the others respond,” Redick added.
The Lakers’ roster has been tested repeatedly this season. LeBron James missed the season’s opening stretch, and Reaves has been out for more than a week. Now, with Dončić sidelined, Redick faces another challenge in configuring lineups that can compete at a high level on both ends of the court.
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Next Up: Phoenix Suns
Los Angeles will look to rebound quickly as they head to Phoenix on Tuesday night, with tipoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET. The team will need contributions from its remaining healthy players while monitoring Dončić, Reaves, and Ayton closely.
The Lakers remain in a wait-and-see mode, hoping that the injuries are minor and that key players can return in time to stabilize the lineup as the season progresses.
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