Lakers’ Doncic to miss game against Warriors due to left hamstring strain
LOS ANGELES — Lakers star Luka Doncic has been declared out for Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) due to a left hamstring strain, as announced by the team.
Doncic exited the court with a limp late in the second quarter and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of Thursday’s 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Initially, the Lakers characterized Doncic’s injury as soreness in his left leg, but head coach JJ Redick indicated that Doncic would have an MRI on his left hamstring on Friday.
On Friday, there was some positive news suggesting that Doncic may not be facing a significant hamstring issue, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.
After the game against the Warriors, L.A. will embark on a three-game homestand, facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, and Doncic’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Thursday. The All-Star game is scheduled for next weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Doncic topped all players in voting, garnering over 3.4 million votes to secure an All-Star selection for the sixth time in his eight-year career.
He currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 32.8 points per game, along with 8.6 assists and 7.8 rebounds. This season, he has missed eight games due to various leg injuries, and the Lakers have recorded a 4-4 record during his absence.
With Doncic sidelined after halftime against Philadelphia, Austin Reaves led a comeback for L.A., overcoming a 14-point deficit in the third quarter by scoring 35 points on 12-for-17 shooting in just 25 minutes, limited by a playing time restriction as he returns from a calf injury. LeBron James overcame a slow start, finishing with 17 points and 10 assists, but matched his season low with eight turnovers.
Out of the 50 games the Lakers have played this season, Doncic, James, and Reaves have shared the court in only 10 of them.
The Lakers also reported that guard Luke Kennard, who was acquired on Thursday in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick, is questionable for the game against the Warriors.
Kennard arrived at the Lakers practice facility on Friday to begin the integration process with his new team.
