LOS ANGELES — As the Lakers get closer to full strength and Austin Reeves is showing glimpses of his pre-injury performance, the team is now facing uncertainty regarding Luka Doncic’s status.
Doncic was ejected during the second quarter of Thursday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers, but not before limping off after grabbing his left foot.
This is the third game Doncic has missed due to foot soreness, but following the match, coach J.J. Reddick noted that Doncic was also feeling discomfort in his left hamstring and would have an MRI on Friday.
“He didn’t feel well enough to continue, and neither did the medical staff,” Reddick explained. “It’s too early to jump to conclusions about an injury.”
It seems Doncic might have hurt himself during a drive late in the second quarter, but details on the exact nature of the injury remain unclear.
After grabbing his hamstring, he struggled to stay on the court for several plays before sitting out a timeout with about three minutes left in the half.
In the 16 minutes he played, Doncic managed 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting, along with four rebounds, two assists, and five turnovers. He left the bench in frustration, kicking the scorer’s table on his way back to the locker room. He didn’t return after the break.
“I don’t really know,” Reeves mentioned. “I asked him at halftime if he was okay, and all he did was look at me. I really hope it’s nothing serious. We definitely need him; he’s our best player. Fingers crossed for some good news on Friday, and I wish him the best.”
While Doncic dealt with his injury, Reeves led the Lakers to a comeback victory— their first game back at Crypto.com Arena in weeks. Remarkably, Reeves scored all 35 of his points in the final three quarters, including 21 in the second half, overcoming a 14-point deficit to win against the 76ers.
“He was phenomenal,” Reddick praised. “It’s his determination that stood out. Sure, he hit some impressive shots, but it was his drive to the rim and getting to the free throw line that really made the difference. It was great to witness.”
This was just Reeves’ second game back after a 19-game absence due to a left calf strain sustained during a Christmas Day game against the Rockets.
He had scored 15 points in his return against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, demonstrating his importance to the team.
Reeves played 25 minutes last night, slightly more than in his previous game.
Teammate Maxi Kleber expressed admiration for Reeves, saying, “It’s incredible when a player can come back like that. He took some tough shots and made them. For someone to return from such a long injury and play with that level of conditioning is truly special.”
The Lakers had hoped that extending their team through trades would allow them to see their core group in action.
On Thursday, Doncic, Reaves, and LeBron James shared the court for only the 10th time this season.
James missed the first 14 games with sciatica, while Doncic has been absent for eight games for various reasons, and Reaves had missed 22 of 24 games due to his calf issue.
Thursday’s scenario served as a reminder of how much the Lakers need all their key players healthy, especially with the potential for Doncic’s absence.
“We didn’t get to see just how serious it is,” Marcus Smart remarked. “But let’s hope it’s not too severe. If he is out for an extended period, we’ll need everyone to step up even more. Having AR back certainly helps, but it will take a collective effort.”
