Luka Dončić has been electric in purple and gold this season. The All-NBA guard is torching defenses for more than 35 points a night and keeping the Lakers firmly near the top of the West.
However, the star has missed two straight games to be in Slovenia for the birth of his second child, and his absence was immediately felt. Lakers’ 1-1 split in Dončić’s absence revealed just how crucial he has become to the Lakers’ identity.
Will Luka Dončić Play vs. Philadelphia 76ers?
Dončić is back with the team and trending toward a full return against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Dan Woike of The Athletic broke the good news Saturday afternoon, reporting on X that Dončić “has rejoined the Lakers in Philadelphia and is expected to play Sunday against the 76ers.”
Dončić left the team earlier this week to be in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he and his fiancée Anamaria Goltes welcomed their newborn. The couple also shares a two-year-old daughter, Gabriela.
While he was away, the Lakers went through a small roller coaster.
They escaped with a dramatic win over the Toronto Raptors thanks to Rui Hachimura’s buzzer-beater. But they were steamrolled two nights later by the Boston Celtics, falling 126–105 without Dončić, LeBron James, and Marcus Smart.
Before his two-game absence, Dončić was putting together one of the most dominant seasons of his career.
He’s averaging 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.9 assists on 47.8% shooting, leading the NBA in scoring and guiding the Lakers to a 12–4 record when he’s on the floor.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves tried to shoulder the offensive load against Boston, dropping 36 points, but the Lakers still suffered their sixth loss of the year. Even so, Los Angeles has remained strong at 16–6, sitting third in the Western Conference.
The Lakers could get their full strength back on Sunday night. Dončić is expected to be available, and James, who also missed the loss to the Celtics, is officially listed as questionable. Smart, however, remains out.
The 76ers won’t be an easy matchup, though. The Sixers are 13–9 and managing well despite their star centre, Joel Embiid’s limited availability. They enter the contest on a three-game winning streak and brimming with confidence.
Still, Dončić’s return is a game-changer. His pacing and sheer offensive pressure reshape the Lakers’ entire rhythm. It will give them the firepower needed against a gritty Sixers squad trying to maintain momentum.
The Lakers and 76ers tip off Sunday, Dec. 7, at Wells Fargo Center.