Luka Doncic to miss Blazers clash with groin soreness

The Los Angeles Lakers will be short-handed when they square off against the Portland Trail Blazers on the road on Saturday. As has been the case all season, the Lakers have dealt with multiple injury issues to key players, and Luka Doncic was ruled out for the team’s game against the Blazers due to left groin soreness.

In addition to Luka Doncic being out, the Lakers’ center rotation of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable on the team’s injury report. Austin Reaves and Adou Thiero remain out.

Without Doncic, the Lakers will rely more on LeBron James. The 41-year-old is in the midst of a historic 23rd season in the NBA, and has still been playing at an elite level. The Blazers game is the first of a back-to-back, with the Lakers returning home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

Doncic has dealt with multiple injuries all season, and during the Lakers’ loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, he was clearly laboring a bit on multiple possessions. During one point in the second half, Doncic left the bench briefly and went to the locker room, before eventually returning. He still finished with 39 points,  three rebounds and four assists in a little over 36 minutes of play.

Doncic has appeared in 32 games so far, at a little over 36 minutes per game. He’s been leading the league in scoring at 33.6 points, to go along with 7.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.6 steals. He’s shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 33.4 percent from the 3-point line and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line. He’s leading the league in field goal attempts at 22.5, and in free-throw attempts at 11.7.

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