E-Paper
Why is Luka Doncic not playing tonight? Here's when Lakers star could be back amid injury woes
Lakers star Luka Doncic missed Sunday’s game vs. Kings with a finger sprain and leg contusion; he’s expected to be back sometime in November.
Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers star, was out of Sunday night's NBA game against the Sacramento Kings due to a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion. He is expected to be out for a week and will likely return a week into November.
Marcus Smart replaced the 26-year-old on the Lakers roster against the Kings - a move that is likely to continue for the next one week, till Doncic returns from his injury. A lot of weight rests on Smart's shoulder as the Lakers recover from the blow of Doncic's injury.
Acquired from the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, Doncic had been carrying a lot of the scoring onus in the absence of the Lakers' star forward, Lebron James, who is also out with an injury.
In the 2025 NBA season, so far, Doncic has played two games for the Lakers, scoring 46 points to go with w11.5 rebounds across 38 minutes on the court. The Lakers next face the Portland Trailblazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies and will have to do without their star forward in them.
Could Austin Reeves Rev Up The Lakers?
The Lakers' offense will largely be dependent on the performance Austin Reeves, who was expected to lead the attack. As the news of Luka Doncic's injury, on top of LeBron James, surfaced, Lakers coach JJ Redick said they will get back to the old-fashioned pace to offset the potential lack in scoring. And who else to do it better than Austin Reeves?
The Reeves formula seemed to be working well for the Lakers against the Sacramento Kings as the veteran guard scored over 45 points to keep the Lakers in the lead deep into the fourth quarter. He also had over eight rebounds in 36 minutes on the court Sunday.
When Will LeBron Be Back?
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, James is currently experiencing sciatica on the right side of his body. This condition leads to pain and weakness in the lower back and leg. There are no previous records indicating that James has dealt with sciatica before.
Following his diagnosis, it was anticipated that he would be sidelined for three to four weeks, with the Lakers aiming for his return in early November.
