Los Angeles Lakers star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will not play Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team announced.
The decision comes one day after both logged close to 40 minutes in Sunday’s 130-120 victory over the Miami Heat. According to the club, Doncic is out for “lower left leg contusion management,” while Reaves is dealing with right groin soreness.
Team sources told ESPN that Los Angeles is monitoring Doncic’s workload after he totaled 77 minutes over his past two outings, returning ahead of schedule from the same leg contusion and a sprained left finger that sidelined him for three games last week.
The Lakers will also be without LeBron James (right sciatica), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) and Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) when they visit Moda Center.
Starting center Deandre Ayton, who left Friday’s win in Memphis with back spasms and missed the Heat game, is listed as questionable. Reserve forward Maxi Kleber, out all season because of an abdominal muscle strain, is also questionable for a possible debut.
Los Angeles has opened the season 5-2, the third-best record in the Western Conference. Doncic is averaging 41.3 points on 54.5% shooting, along with 11.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists. Reaves is posting 31.1 points on 48.9%, 9.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds.
Portland (4-2) sits one spot behind the Lakers in the West and handed Los Angeles one of its two defeats earlier in the schedule.
Source: ESPN
