Doncic, Reaves Out vs. Blazers; Ayton and Kleber Listed as Questionable for Lakers
doncic-reaves-out-ayton-kleber-questionable-lakers-blazers
The Lakers will face the Trail Blazers on Monday without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the club announced before tip-off in Portland.
Doncic, sidelined by “lower left leg contusion injury management” and a left finger sprain, will miss his fourth game of the young season. Reaves is dealing with right groin soreness, marking his first absence of 2025-26 after playing through the issue in Sunday’s win over Miami.
Monday’s matchup is the second night of a back-to-back for Los Angeles, which improved to 5-2 by defeating the Heat.
Frontcourt Status
Starting center Deandre Ayton exited Friday’s victory over Memphis at halftime and sat out Sunday due to mid-back spasms. Head coach JJ Redick said the 7-footer is still experiencing tightness; he is listed as questionable for Portland.
Forward/center Maxi Kleber (strained abdominal muscle) is also questionable and could make his season debut after missing the first seven games.
LaRavia’s Surge
After averaging just 6.3 points over his first four outings, offseason signee Jake LaRavia has posted 21.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 steals while shooting 78.1% from the field across the past three contests. Redick praised the 6’8″ forward’s feel for the game, calling his instincts “intuitive” on both ends.
League sources said Sacramento hoped to re-sign LaRavia but was limited to a $5.16 million starting salary; the Lakers secured him with a $6 million annual offer and the player’s close relationship with Reaves reportedly helped seal the deal.
Smart’s Impact
Veteran guard Marcus Smart contributed 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block on Sunday. Doncic praised Smart’s “unbelievable” energy, noting years of battling the defensive ace as an opponent.
Source: Hoops Rumors
