Luka Dončić Ruled Out for Upcoming Match
Luka Dončić, the standout player for the Los Angeles Lakers, has officially been ruled out for their upcoming match against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 17. The team confirmed on Friday evening that Dončić will not participate due to lingering soreness in his groin. This injury occurred during warm-ups prior to a game against the Sacramento Kings earlier this week.
Despite his efforts to play through the discomfort in the subsequent three games, the Lakers only managed to secure one victory against two losses during this period.
Additional Player Absences
In addition to Dončić, Los Angeles will also be missing Austin Reaves, who is dealing with a strain to his left calf, and Adou Thiero, who has a right MCL sprain.
Dončić’s Season Performance
This season, Luka Dončić has demonstrated exceptional performance on the court, averaging 33.6 points, 8.7 assists, and 7.7 rebounds across 32 games, positioning him as the league leader in scoring and ranking fourth in assists.
Potential Replacements
On the point guard front, Kobe Bufkin is expected to step up as Dončić’s primary replacement, although his averages of 1.5 points and 2 rebounds per game reflect a significant contrast to Dončić’s exceptional stats. Another option for the Lakers could be Gabe Vincent, who has averaged 5.1 points and 1.4 assists in his limited playtime this season.
Match Details
The match against the Trail Blazers is scheduled to occur at the Moda Center in Portland, with tip-off set for 10 PM ET (7 PM PT).
This update was initially published by USA TODAY in a report on Luka Dončić’s injury status.
