Luka Doncic. Image via: Gary Dineen/National Basketball Association via Getty Images
The Los Angeles star rolled his right ankle late in a 123-112 win over the Bucks, the team’s seventh in a row. Before the night began, he led the NBA at 39.3 points per game. Reaves came into the night averaging a career-high 25.2 points. The Lakers are 11-2, the best record in the NBA, while the Bucks fell to 1-11.
The Lakers have not officially confirmed his status for Sunday’s game at Phoenix, but his words suggest he does not expect a long absence.
“Obviously painful a bit,” he told reporters after the game, “but I’ll be fine. “Luka, I think is fine,” Redick said. Probably no update besides that,” he said. The coach also said the team is not worried about an Achilles injury.
He walked to the locker room, then spoke after the game with a calm that eased the nerves. Another Lakers guard left the same game hurt and did not offer the same comfort. Together, the two injuries gave Los Angeles an uneasy end to an otherwise easy night. The league’s leading scorer was honest about the pain. Coach JJ Redick shared that view. “Just a light tweak. Redick explained the next step. “His X-rays were negative. Los Angeles has three days off before Sunday’s game against the Suns, which gives both guards time to heal. Thursday’s imaging will show how much of that time Reaves needs.
Luka Doncic stayed down on the floor in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, and the Lakers bench went quiet. We’ll get imaging tomorrow.