LeBron James isn’t the only Los Angeles Lakers superstar who will be out of the franchise’s lineup for its upcoming battle against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic, whom the Lakers acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in February, is also slated to miss a few more games (he’s already missed two) with two unfortunate injuries.
Why Luka Doncic isn’t playing tonight vs. the Timberwolves
Doncic’s nagging left finger sprain and lower left leg contusion will leave the Lakers without their franchise point guard for the time being.
Doncic notched 92 points in his first two 2025-26 season contests with Los Angeles, picking up right where he left off in a Lakers uniform.
However, the 26-year-old guard’s latest injuries have prevented him from building on his early-season success.
That said, Doncic won’t be out for long.
“Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will be sidelined for approximately one week because of a left finger sprain and lower left leg contusion,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported last Sunday. “The Lakers are optimistic that Doncic will not need extended time for recovery beyond the initial estimated timeline.”
Doncic and James’ absence has allowed Austin Reaves to showcase his full offensive arsenal in a more demanding role.
The Oklahoma product joined the 40+ point scoring club on back-to-back occasions, increasing his scoring average to 34 points.
The Lakers will need a lot more of that until their health improves.
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