Luka Dončić left the Los Angeles Lakers' 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday with hamstring soreness, prompting concerns ahead of their matchup with the Golden State Warriors. An MRI on Friday will determine the severity, with initial optimism suggesting it may not be major. The injury adds to Dončić's season-long leg issues, as the Lakers rely heavily on their star guard.
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a hard-fought comeback win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night, but the triumph was overshadowed by an injury to their cornerstone player, Luka Dončić. The superstar guard exited midway through the second quarter with hamstring soreness after playing 16 minutes, in which he recorded 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and five turnovers on 3-of-10 shooting. Lakers coach JJ Redick explained the cautious decision to sideline him: "He felt some soreness in his hamstring, so he didn’t feel like it was good enough to go back in. Neither did our medical staff, so we held him out. He’ll get some imaging."
Dončić is scheduled for an MRI on Friday, with ESPN's Brian Windhorst outlining the potential ramifications. "It really comes down to, is this a mild strain, a first-degree? If that’s the case, the All-Star break comes next week, and he could be back without missing too many games. If it’s a more serious Grade 2, now you’ve got a bigger problem," Windhorst said. Dončić has already missed eight games this season due to leg-related injuries, highlighting the fragility of his lower body.
Despite the setback, the Lakers demonstrated resilience without their leading scorer, who averages 33.4 points, 8.7 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game. They are 27-15 with Dončić on the court but just 4-4 without him. Austin Reaves stepped up dramatically, scoring 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting in 25 minutes, including five three-pointers, while operating under a minutes restriction after his own calf strain. LeBron James contributed 17 points and 10 assists, though he struggled with eight turnovers.
The timing could prove beneficial for Los Angeles, who sit one game above the Western Conference play-in line and begin an eight-game homestand with no road games for three weeks. They improved to 13-8 at home with the win. However, Dončić is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors, where Stephen Curry will also miss his third straight contest due to runner's knee. Curry described his condition as "trending in the right direction" but painful, suggesting he may sit until after the All-Star break.
Reaves, enjoying a career year with 26.5 points and 5.9 assists per game, emphasized the team's need for Dončić: "Hopefully nothing major. We need him. He’s our best player and the engine for a lot of the stuff we do." The MRI results will clarify Dončić's timeline, but his absence underscores the Lakers' dependence on their star duo amid a competitive Western Conference race.
