The Los Angeles Lakers announced that guard Luka Doncic will be sidelined for at least a week after suffering a sprained finger and a lower left leg contusion during Friday’s win. The team expects Doncic to return to the lineup next week, giving him time to recover fully, according to Dave McMenamin.
Doncic’s absence comes as LeBron James continues to sit out with sciatica, leaving the Lakers without their two primary stars. The duo’s absence has already put added pressure on the supporting cast to maintain the team’s competitive edge.
In his first two games this season, Doncic averaged 46 points per game, including a 49-point performance against Minnesota and a 43-point outing against Golden State. His scoring, playmaking, and leadership will be missed as Los Angeles navigates a challenging stretch of games.
During Doncic’s expected week-long absence, the Lakers will face a challenging schedule, including matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday and Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
The team is expected to rely heavily on Austin Reaves, who has averaged over 45 points in the past two games, and Deandre Ayton to fill the scoring void.
Los Angeles is 2–2 to start the season, with wins over Minnesota and Sacramento and losses to Golden State and Portland. Maintaining momentum without Doncic and James will be a key focus for head coach as the Lakers seek to remain competitive in the Western Conference early in the season.
