Luka Doncic misses the game against the Trail Blazers due to groin discomfort
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will not participate in Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to left groin discomfort, the team announced Friday. Doncic, 26 years old, comes from scoring 39 points, dishing out 4 assists and grabbing 3 rebounds in the Los Angeles’ 135-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.Earlier in the week, before the Lakers’ 124-112 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Doncic stated that he “felt something” in his groin area while warming up, but played anyway, receiving treatment on the inner part of his leg during the game.
He scored 42 points against the Kings with 8 assists and 7 rebounds, and then played the following night in the Lakers’ resounding 141-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, where he scored 27 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds after being questionable until game time. Doncic leads the league in scoring with 33.6 points per game and is the most voted player in the Western Conference after two rounds of voting for the All-Star. Despite his personal success in his first full season with the Lakers after the surprising trade from the Dallas Mavericks last February, the Lakers are in a difficult moment, losing eight of their last 13 games and falling to number 5 in the West. After the game against the Hornets, Doncic cited the victory against Atlanta as proof that Los Angeles can overcome the slump it is in.The Lakers also announced that backup center Jaxson Hayes is questionable for Saturday due to tendinopathy in his left hamstring, which has kept him out of the last two games, while starting center Deandre Ayton is a new addition to the injury list. Ayton is questionable with left knee soreness.“The way we played against Atlanta, it was also a back-to-back, so we told ourselves [we are capable],” Doncic said. “We have to play like that. Playing fast, playing with physicality. I think Atlanta was a good example for us.”
Luka Doncic
