Hyderabad: Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic missed Wednesday’s game against the LA Clippers because of back tightness. The team rested him on the second night of consecutive games to avoid aggravating the issue.
Doncic played 37 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. He scored 41 points, grabbed five rebounds and provided nine assists in the Lakers’ 136-129 defeat. The loss was their first of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Lakers had started the season with three consecutive victories. However, their demanding schedule prompted the team to take a cautious approach with its leading scorer.
Lakers Take Precautionary Approach With Doncic
Head coach JJ Redick said the decision was precautionary amid a demanding stretch of games. Doncic experienced back tightness, while teammate Ziaire Williams was sidelined with left foot soreness.
Doncic had started all four of the Lakers’ previous games before missing the Clippers matchup. His absence left the team without its leading offensive creator for the cross-town contest.
The Slovenian star entered Wednesday averaging 36 points, 8.3 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game. He was also leading the NBA in scoring at that stage of the season.
Doncic’s workload had been substantial during the opening week. He scored 52 points against the Utah Jazz on October 25 before adding 41 against Portland two days later.
The Lakers were therefore prioritising his fitness during their first back-to-back of the campaign. The team had played every other day since opening its season on October 21.
Redick indicated that the decision was based on caution rather than a confirmed serious injury. However, Doncic’s availability for subsequent games remained subject to his recovery and the team’s assessment.
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