Getty
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers is targeting a return on Christmas Day.
The Los Angeles Lakers remain hopeful they will have franchise star Luka Dončić back in the lineup soon after ruling him out for Tuesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, as the team continues to manage a lower left leg contusion that has revived familiar injury concerns.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are targeting a potential return for Dončić on Christmas Day when Los Angeles hosts the Houston Rockets in a nationally televised matchup.
“He missed some time earlier this season with the lower left leg injury,” McMenamin said Tuesday on NBA Today. “They’re saying this is just a bruise, and so they’re going to be working on some sort of wrap, or perhaps padding that Luka can wear on the leg to protect from things like the knee that he took from Bogdanović in the Clippers game moving forward, but there’s still a possibility — a very real possibility — that he feels good enough to go Thursday against the Rockets.”
Dončić’s Injury History Sparks Concern
The Lakers’ cautious approach stems largely from Dončić’s prior injury history. During his final seasons in Dallas, Dončić dealt with multiple calf strains — issues that repeatedly sidelined him and ultimately contributed to the Mavericks’ willingness to move him.
While the Lakers initially listed Dončić as day-to-day, head coach JJ Redick confirmed Monday that the team is being deliberately conservative.
“It’s happened a bunch this season,” Redick said after Monday’s practice. “We’re looking at ways to better protect his legs when there are collisions like that.”
Dončić suffered the contusion following a collision with Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanović late in the first half of Saturday’s loss. Dončić was visibly hobbling before halftime and informed the coaching staff that he could not continue.
“I saw him hobbling toward the end of the first half,” Redick revealed after the game. “He came to me at halftime and said he couldn’t go.”
Dončić left the arena without speaking to reporters and was later seen with his lower leg heavily wrapped during Monday’s practice. The injury is not believed to be related to a similar contusion that sidelined him for three games in late October, though the visual similarities sparked immediate concern among fans.
Dončić’s Absence Exposes Lakers’ Thin Margin for Error
Before exiting Saturday’s game, Dončić endured one of his more difficult halves of the season. He finished with 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting, including 1-for-6 from three-point range, and committed four turnovers as the Lakers trailed 54–39 at halftime.
Entering the contest, Dončić was leading the NBA in scoring at a career-best 35.2 points per game while also averaging 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
His absence highlighted the Lakers’ limited margin for error, particularly with Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Deandre Ayton also sidelined.
Both Ayton and Reaves are expected to return against Phoenix.
Ayton and Reaves Return as Lakers Seek Stability
GettyAustin Reaves returns to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup after missing the last three games.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Ayton has quietly stabilized the Lakers’ frontcourt after an uneven final season in Portland. The former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 15.9 points on 71.0 percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 29.4 minutes per game, providing interior scoring and rim protection.
Reaves’ return, however, carries even greater significance.
The fifth-year guard has emerged as one of the NBA’s most improved players this season, evolving from a complementary scorer into a primary offensive engine. Before suffering a calf injury, Reaves appeared in 21 games, averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game while logging more than 37 minutes per night.
He is shooting 50 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 88 percent from the free-throw line, placing him among the league’s most efficient high-usage guards.
His impact also shows up in lineup data. Reaves leads the Lakers in plus-minus at +81, according to StatMuse, reflecting his two-way value and on-court influence.
Balancing Urgency and Caution
With the Lakers navigating a tightly packed Western Conference race, the temptation to rush Dončić back is real — particularly for a marquee Christmas Day game.
But Redick and the Lakers’ medical staff appear committed to prioritizing long-term health over short-term gains.
Whether Dončić returns Thursday or sits out a bit longer, the Lakers’ handling of his injury may prove just as important as any midseason result, especially for a team whose championship hopes hinge squarely on keeping its superstar on the floor in April, May and beyond.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
More Heavy on Lakers
Loading more stories