By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After playing through discomfort in recent games, besides a minor back injury on Thursday, Luka Doncic was ruled out for Saturday’s meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers due to left groin soreness.
The Lakers officially ruled him out on Friday afternoon, one day before tipoff in Moda Center to start the next back-to-back on the schedule of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
From Portland back to Los Angeles, JJ Redick’s side welcomes the Toronto Raptors in crypto.com Arena on Sunday. The 26-year-old Slovenian superstar is likely to bounce back at the bottom end of the weekend double to face the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic.
In addition to leading the league with 33.6 points per game over 32 appearances this season, Doncic has also put up 8.7 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest.
Entering the back-to-back at 24-15, sitting fifth in the Western Conference standings, Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) were already on the injury report. Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Jaxson Hayes (left hamstring tendinopathy) were listed as questionable to play against the Blazers.
On the opposite side, carrying a 20-22 season record inside the West’s Play-In zone, the Blazers switched the injury designation of Deni Avdija from lower back soreness to lower back strain, and listed him as doubtful to play against the Lakers. Therefore, the Israeli forward is expected to miss a third straight game since the setback. Similar to the Lakers, Tiago Splitter’s team is also entering a back-to-back, before visiting the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Sunday.
Scoot Henderson (left hamstring tear), Damian Lillard (left Achilles tendon injury management), Kris Murray (lumbar strain), Matisse Thybulle (right knee tendinopathy), and Blake Wesley (right foot fracture) are all dealing with long-term issues, with Jerami Grant (left Achilles injury management) and Jrue Holiday (right calf injury management) listed as questionable.