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Luka Doncic during a game against the San Antonio Spurs in December 2025
On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers were dealt another injury scare when Luka Doncic was forced to exit their win over the Philadelphia 76ers early.
Doncic left the game late in the first quarter after grabbing at his hamstring, showing visible frustration as he headed to the locker room. He did not return and was scheduled to undergo an MRI.
The Lakers later ruled him out for Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors, marking his ninth missed game of the season.
Still, early indications suggest the absence may be brief, with Doncic potentially close to a return.
Lakers Receive Encouraging Luka Doncic Update
Ahead of Saturday’s game, head coach JJ Redick offered clarity on Doncic’s status and expressed optimism about his short-term outlook.
“I’ve been around him as a teammate and as a coach, and I know … if he’s able to play, he plays, and I think he wants to be in the All-Star Game,” Redick said, via The Orange County Register. “I know he wants to play against Dallas [his former team] the game before the All-Star Game. He has his team working on him day and night.”
“He’s got a mild hamstring strain,” Redick added. “He’ll be out tonight, and then day to day moving forward. When he’s ready to play, we’ll get him out there.”
That outlook offered the clearest sign yet that the injury is not serious and may not keep Doncic sidelined for long.
In his absence against Philadelphia, Austin Reaves stepped into a leading role, erupting for 35 points despite being on a minutes restriction.
It marked just his second game back after missing 19 contests with a calf injury suffered in late December.
The Philadelphia game was only the 10th time this season that Doncic, Reaves, and LeBron James had all shared the floor together, showing how stop-start Los Angeles’ campaign has been due to injuries.
The Lakers followed up with a 105-99 win over Golden State on Saturday without their superstar guard.
Reaves contributed 16 points and eight assists off the bench, while LeBron James led the way with 20 points and 10 assists. Luke Kennard added 10 points in his Lakers debut.
DeAndre Ayton was ruled out prior to the game with a knee injury, further crowding an injury report that already included Doncic and rookie Adou Thiero, who remains sidelined long-term.
Doncic’s Health Remains a Quiet Concern
While the current injury appears minor, Doncic’s durability has become a growing talking point over the past month.
The Lakers star has openly acknowledged playing through groin soreness that has steadily worsened in recent weeks, raising questions about the cumulative strain on his body as the season progresses.
Despite leading the NBA in scoring at 32.8 points per game, Doncic also ranks seventh league-wide in minutes played at 35.5 per night, a workload that naturally intensifies scrutiny around his health.
Los Angeles has already navigated multiple interruptions involving Doncic this season, including a left finger sprain, a lower left leg contusion, and a recurring leg issue that resurfaced in December, all of which cost him time.
In January, Ashish Mathur of Lakers Daily reported that the 26-year-old had been playing through significant discomfort, citing sources who described “a lot of pain” and lingering issues across several areas.
That report suggested his explosiveness and perimeter shooting had suffered despite extensive treatment.
Those claims were later pushed back on by Dan Woike of The Athletic, but it’s clear that Doncic has been dealing with recurring physical issues throughout the season.
With the Lakers leaning heavily on their superstar, careful management will be critical to avoid a more serious, long-term setback.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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