TITLE: Luka Doncic sidelined by finger sprain and leg contusion, will be re-evaluated in a week
SLUG: lakers-luka-doncic-sidelined-week
CONTENT:
The Los Angeles Lakers expect guard Luka Doncic to miss at least one week after tests confirmed a sprained left finger and a lower left leg contusion, the club announced Saturday.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, team doctors plan to re-evaluate the All-Star in roughly seven days. Early indications suggest the injuries are minor and should not affect him long term.
Doncic hurt the finger early in Friday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves but stayed on the floor with the digit taped. The leg contusion emerged later in the game and is unrelated to a minor issue he experienced on the opposite leg during the Oct. 24 opener at Golden State.
The timing forces Los Angeles to navigate a busy stretch without its leading scorer. The Lakers visit Sacramento on Monday, host Portland on Wednesday, travel to Minnesota on Friday and Memphis on Saturday, then return to Crypto.com Arena to face Miami on Nov. 5.
With Doncic and LeBron James (sciatica) both sidelined, head coach Darvin Ham is expected to shift additional ball-handling duties to Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart and rookie Dalton Knecht.
Doncic opened the season in dominant form, averaging 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists over the first two games, drawing “MVP” chants from the home crowd on Friday night. The 26-year-old appeared in only 50 contests last season but reported to camp in peak condition after a strong summer with Slovenia at EuroBasket.
Center Jaxson Hayes will also sit out Monday’s game in Sacramento with left knee soreness, marking his second consecutive absence, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported.
Source: Hoops Wire
