LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic played through a sore groin Tuesday night and delivered 27 points and 12 assists in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 25-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Crypto.com Arena. After the game, the All-NBA guard admitted the injury intensified.
“It’s a little bit worse than yesterday, but we’ll be fine,” Doncic told reporters. The 26-year-old had been listed as questionable after feeling discomfort following Monday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, the front end of the back-to-back set.
Despite not feeling “100%,” Doncic said his preference is always to suit up. “For me, I want to play,” he said. “In my head, I always want to play.” He logged 35 minutes against Atlanta and hit five three-pointers as Los Angeles improved to 28-12.
The Lakers face three more games this week, including another back-to-back, before embarking on an eight-game road trip — the club’s longest stretch away from home this season. Team officials indicated they will monitor Doncic’s status closely to avoid aggravating the soft-tissue injury.
Doncic also highlighted the recent growth of center Jaxson Hayes, praising the athletic big man for expanding his offensive game beyond rim-running duties.
Source: Lakers Nation
