Bad news for Lakers: Luka Doncic out due to injury
A sprained finger will keep Luka Doncic out at least a week
The Los Angeles Lakers' start to the season has taken a major hit. Luka Doncic, their star player in the absence of LeBron James, will be out at least a week after suffering a sprained left finger and a bruise on his left leg, according to ESPN and confirmed by the Los Angeles team.
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The injury occurred during the victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which Doncic scored 49 points despite having sprained his finger in the first minutes.
Prior to that, he had scored 43 points in the loss to the Golden State Warriors on opening night, making it clear why his arrival generated so much expectation among Los Angeles fans.
JJ Redick calls for calm and team play
Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the difficulty of losing the team's most decisive player on offense. "Obviously you're losing a player who creates an advantage every possession on the offensive end. That's the toughest part. We have to be mindful of the personnel, and we have to do everything in rhythm," Redick told reporters before the game in Sacramento.
Doncic will be re-evaluated in about a week, although his absence comes at a difficult time for the Los Angeles team. Over the next nine days, the Lakers will play six games, including against Sacramento, Portland, Minnesota, Memphis, and Miami, which will test the roster's depth.
The Slovenian's absence comes on top of that of LeBron James, who continues to recover from sciatica and is not expected to return before mid-November. This double absence leaves the Lakers without their two main offensive icons in a key start to the season to consolidate their new project.
Austin Reaves, called to assume leadership
With Doncic and LeBron out, Austin Reaves emerges as the main offensive hope. The young guard has scored 51 points in the first two games and will be tasked with sustaining the team's production while the stars recover.
Redick insisted that the group will have to find collective solutions. "We're going to need offense from other players. Everything has to be done within the framework of what we're trying to do,” I explained.