The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena tonight, looking to bounce back into the win column. However, the biggest question marks for the matchup remain the availability of superstar Luka Doncic and breakout guard Austin Reaves.
According to the latest official NBA injury report, the Lakers have listed both Doncic (left ankle soreness) and Reaves (left calf strain) as questionable for tonight’s contest.
Doncic landed on the injury report following a frightening fall at Rocket Arena during Wednesday’s 129-99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a three-point attempt, the Slovenian star backpedaled off the court’s elevated edge, showing immediate signs of ankle pain.
While he returned to finish the game, Doncic admitted the incident was a major scare. “I kind of got scared. It wasn’t a great feeling, and looking back at the video, I think I got a little bit lucky,” Doncic told reporters, via The Athletic.
There is no doubt that having Doncic on the floor elevates the Lakers’ game to another level, but the team will likely prioritize caution to avoid any long-term setbacks. The NBA‘s leading scorer remains a dominant force this season, averaging 33.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.5 steals through 38 games.
Austin Reaves’ potential return
On the other side of the injury list, Austin Reaves may finally be ready for his highly anticipated return. Reaves has been sidelined since Christmas Day, when he suffered a calf strain against the Houston Rockets. After missing 17 consecutive games, his return would provide a massive boost to the purple and gold rotation.
Reaves has been enjoying a career year, serving as one of the Lakers’ most lethal offensive weapons. Before his injury, he was averaging a career-high 26.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc, alongisde 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds.