The Los Angeles Lakers (23-14) host the Atlanta Hawks (20-21) at Crypto.com Arena for NBA regular-season action. The primary concern for the home team is whether superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic will take the floor tonight.
According to the latest official NBA injury report, the Lakers have listed LeBron James (left foot joint arthritis & right sciatica) and Luka Doncic (left groin soreness) as questionable for tonight’s matchup in Los Angeles.
The Lakers are coming off a surprising loss to the Sacramento Kings, a game in which both James and Doncic played. The Slovenian star had a dominant performance, leading all scorers with 42 points while adding seven rebounds and eight assists. LeBron followed as the team’s second-leading scorer with 22 points.
Tonight marks the second game of a back-to-back. At 41 years old, James has yet to play both ends of a back-to-back this season, as the franchise remains cautious regarding his age and physical workload. That is why it is highly likely that the King will not see action tonight and will take a rest day instead.
As for Doncic, he admitted to feeling discomfort during warmups in Sacramento. “I was really uncertain for the game. Warming up, I felt something,” Doncic told reporters post-game. “So, just trying to get warm… Tomorrow, we will see when I wake up“. A final decision on Doncic’s status is expected closer to tip-off as the team monitors his progress.
Shorthanded Lakers face Hawks
Following a three-game winning streak, the Lakers are looking to return to the win column tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. However, they will be forced to do so with a severely depleted roster, as arguably their three most impactful players—LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves—will not be present at Crypto.com Arena.
With James and Doncic sidelined, the leadership role would typically fall to Reaves; however, the point guard is also out due to a left calf strain. In their absence, Marcus Smart is expected to take over primary ball-handling duties, while young rotation players Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht will have a significant opportunity to prove they can handle increased responsibilities.