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Lakers’ Luka Doncic before a game against the Sacramento Kings in December 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers were severely short-handed on Tuesday night and paid the price in a blowout 136-108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves all missed the contest due to injury. Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart were also ruled out.
Victor Wembanyama erupted for a season-high-tying 40 points, including 37 in the first-half, as the Lakers fell to 32-21 with their second straight defeat.
Lakers Take Cautious Approach With Injuries
A back-to-back against Western Conference contenders Oklahoma City and San Antonio was always going to present a challenge.
With the injury report as long as it was, the Spurs matchup felt close to a scheduled loss for Los Angeles.
Head coach JJ Redick offered updates on James and Reaves prior to tipoff, and his comments suggested the absences were largely precautionary.
“Austin, he was coming back from a tissue injury, he was only going to play in one of these games,” Redick told reporters. “LeBron, obviously, dealing with the history of injuries he’s had to start the year. It just depends on how he wakes up the next day as he goes through his treatment in the morning, but we ruled him out.”
James, now 41, has seen his availability in back-to-backs become a frequent topic of discussion throughout the season. Reaves recently returned from a 19-game absence, and the Lakers appear determined to manage his workload carefully.
Meanwhile, Doncic has now missed the Lakers’ last three games after exiting last Thursday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter with a hamstring injury.
When asked for an update on the Slovenian star, Redick kept it brief, saying, “Luka continues to progress.”
Optimism Surrounds Doncic’s Timeline
Redick’s update on Doncic was vague, but it did offer reason for optimism.
It aligns with the belief that the injury is not serious and leaves open the possibility of a return before the All-Star break, potentially against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
“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 prior to Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors. “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.”
While the injury appears minor, concerns about Doncic’s durability have surfaced in recent months as his workload sits as one of the highest in the league.
The Lakers star has acknowledged playing through lingering soreness that has gradually intensified, raising questions about cumulative strain as the season progresses, particularly given his heavy minutes.
Los Angeles has already dealt with multiple interruptions involving Doncic this season, including a left finger sprain, recurring leg issues, and both lower back and ankle injuries that sidelined him.
The Lakers can afford patience now. But if they hope to make a serious push after the All-Star break, they will need a fully healthy Doncic leading the way.
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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