The Los Angeles Lakers plan to have Luka Doncic back in uniform on Friday night when they face the Los Angeles Clippers, head coach JJ Redick confirmed after Thursday’s practice.
Doncic sat out the club’s previous four contests with a strained hamstring. The 25-year-old guard logged five minutes in Sunday’s All-Star Game without discomfort, reinforcing expectations that he would be ready immediately after the break.
Reaves Cleared for Full Workload
Redick also announced that guard Austin Reaves is no longer under a minutes limitation. “Austin won’t have a minutes restriction, and as of 35–45 seconds ago, it looks like we’ll have everyone available tomorrow,” the coach told reporters.
Reaves had been capped at roughly 25 minutes per game while coming off the bench in each of the last five outings following a calf injury.
Lakers at Near-Full Strength
Los Angeles went 2-2 during Doncic’s absence, including a lopsided defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in which Reaves, LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also rested. In his first full season with the Lakers, Doncic tops the NBA with 32.8 points per game and ranks third in assists at 8.6.
Friday’s matchup is set to mark the first time in weeks that Doncic, James and Reaves will share the court, giving Redick his healthiest roster of the campaign. Forward Rui Hachimura recently said the passing of the trade deadline has further stabilized the locker room as the team enters the season’s stretch run.
Source: Lakers Nation
