Luka Doncic to sit out Lakers’ game in Portland with groin soreness
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The Los Angeles Lakers ruled Luka Doncic out of Saturday’s matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers because of soreness in his left groin, the team announced Friday.
Doncic, 26, delivered 39 points, four assists and three rebounds in Thursday’s 135-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Earlier in the week, he said he “felt something” in the same area while warming up for Monday’s 124-112 defeat against the Sacramento Kings, yet still logged 42 points, eight assists and seven rebounds that night.
Despite being a game-time decision on Tuesday, the guard played in the Lakers’ 141-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with 27 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.
Doncic leads the NBA in scoring at 33.6 points per game and tops the Western Conference in fan voting after two rounds of All-Star ballot returns. His individual success has not translated into consistent wins; Los Angeles has dropped eight of its last 13 contests and sits fifth in the West.
After the loss to Charlotte, Doncic pointed to the Atlanta performance as proof the team can snap its slump, citing the Lakers’ pace and physicality that night.
The club also updated its injury report for Saturday’s game. Backup center Jaxson Hayes is listed as questionable with left hamstring tendinopathy that has sidelined him for the past two games, and starting center Deandre Ayton is newly questionable due to soreness in his left knee.
Source: ESPN
