The Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena tonight aiming for their third consecutive victory. However, for this marquee duel, the home side will be without Luka Doncic, who has been a dominant force this season as the NBA’s leading scorer.
Doncic was ruled out of the contest against the Warriors due to a left hamstring strain sustained during Thursday’s 119-115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Slovenian star was limited to just 16 minutes—recording 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists—before injuring the leg in the second quarter and being sidelined for the remainder of the game.
His early exit sparked immediate concern at Crypto.com Arena. Following the game, head coach JJ Redick confirmed that Doncic would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.
“Yeah, he felt some soreness in his hamstring. He didn’t feel like it was good enough to go back in, and neither did the medical staff. So we held him out,” Redick said during his post-game press conference. “He’ll get some imaging. It’s too early to say if there’s a major injury, but he just had a sore hamstring”.
The Lakers have opted for a cautious approach. While the exact timeline for his return remains unclear, the organization are prioritizing long-term health over a single regular-season game to avoid a potential setback.
Austin Reaves ready to step up in Doncic’s absence
Amid the concern regarding Doncic, the Lakers received a major boost with the return of Austin Reaves. The guard recently missed 19 games due to a left calf strain suffered on Christmas Day against the Houston Rockets.
In his first game back on Tuesday against the Nets, Reaves played 21 minutes and contributed 15 points. However, it was his performance against the 76ers that truly electrified the crowd and reassured the purple and gold faithful.
After Doncic left the floor with the Lakers trailing, Reaves took over the game to secure the win. In just 25 minutes of action, the guard exploded for 35 points, six rebounds, and two assists, proving he is ready to handle an increased workload while the Slovenian superstar recovers.