Alarm bells went off in Los Angeles on Saturday night when Luka Doncic didn’t return after halftime of the Lakers‘ 103-88 loss to the Clippers.
What was already a frustrating blowout turned into something more concerning when the NBA’s leading scorer was ruled out with a left leg contusion, leaving the Lakers to answer uncomfortable questions about their immediate future.
Doncic exited after playing 19 minutes in the first half, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. He missed his first six shots and picked up a technical foul, but the bigger issue came when he was visibly limping in the second quarter. Head coach JJ Redick said he noticed the same thing and had no further update beyond the team’s initial diagnosis.
The timing could not be worse
For a Lakers team sitting fourth in the Western Conference, the timing could not be worse. Doncic has been playing at an MVP level and is the primary reason the Purple and Gold have stayed near the top of the standings. He entered the night averaging a league-best 35.2 points per game, narrowly ahead of Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and has made that kind of production look routine through the first stretch of the season.
Even in a year filled with big numbers, Doncic start stands out historically. He is averaging roughly 35 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, a combination that puts him on pace for one of the best offensive seasons the league has ever seen. He has scored under 30 points just four times all season and has already produced more 40-point games than sub-30 outings, highlighted by a 49-point performance against Minnesota.
His efficiency across the floor, particularly in the paint and on difficult, contested shots, has driven the Lakers‘ offense on a nightly basis. LeBron James, who finished the game but watched the second half without his co-star, acknowledged the concern that comes with seeing a teammate go down. He said he hadn’t spoken to Doncic after the game but noticed him limping and emphasized how injuries can derail any team, regardless of the sport.
An injury that magnifies other issues
The Lakers were already shorthanded against the Clippers, and Doncic‘s absence only magnified those issues. Rui Hachimura missed his first start of the season due to a sore groin and is expected to be out for several days. The team is also hoping to get Deandre Ayton back from a left elbow issue and Austin Reaves from a left calf injury, but Saturday showed how thin the margin can be without their star on the floor.
Los Angeles struggled to keep pace once Doncic went out, trailing 54-39 at halftime and never threatening a comeback. The loss itself hurts, but the larger concern is how much of the Lakers‘ identity runs through Doncic‘s production. His ability to score from everywhere, draw fouls at a career-high rate and create offense under constant defensive pressure has been the engine of their success.
Until there is clarity on the severity of his injury, the Lakers will be holding their breath. With Doncic playing at a historic level and carrying MVP buzz, any extended absence could quickly change the outlook for a team that has relied heavily on his brilliance to stay near the top of a crowded Western Conference.
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