Luka Doncic out vs Warriors. When will Lakers star return?

Luka Doncic and the Lakers appeared to have dodged a worst-case scenario after the star guard had an early exit from Thursday night’s home win over the 76ers. 

Doncic was ruled out for Saturday’s prime-time game against the Warriors. On Friday, coach JJ Redick said Doncic would have an MRI after dealing with soreness in his left hamstring. 

This can be taken as a positive sign because the team typically announces updates when a player is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks due to injury.

ESPN also reported Friday that there’s optimism Doncic isn’t dealing with a “major” left hamstring injury.

That’s good news for the Lakers and Doncic, especially after he kicked the scorer’s table out of frustration on his way to the locker room as he was leaving Thursday’s game. 

But even though Doncic avoided a major injury, there’s still uncertainty about his status.

Day to day? 

A week?

Longer, with All-Star weekend just a week away and the Lakers’ first game after the break not until Feb. 20?

Clarity to those questions likely won’t come until Redick’s pregame media availability Saturday afternoon, though it appears a potential Doncic absence would be short term. 

The Lakers have shown multiple times they’re equipped to at least tread water when they’re without one of their star players.

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Austin Reaves, just two games back from a 19-game absence due to a strained left calf, once again showed Thursday how vital he is to the Lakers – even with Doncic and LeBron James on the roster.

Reaves scored his 35 points in the final three quarters against the 76ers, including 21 in the second half, leading the Lakers to a 14-point comeback victory during a half without Doncic. 

And he did it in a variety of ways.

Drives to the basket past 76ers athletic defenders. Catch-and-shoot and pull-up 3-pointers regardless of how tightly he was defended. And while Reaves came off the bench and played on a minutes restriction against the 76ers, how he played showed he’s getting his rhythm back after being sidelined for so long. 

But it isn’t just Reaves’ return, and return to form, that the Lakers would benefit from if Doncic has to miss multiple games. 

James is not only available but also is in a better rhythm compared with the last time Doncic missed multiple games in a row – when Doncic traveled to Slovenia in early December for the birth of his second daughter. James only had a few games under his belt after sitting out of the first 14 games because of sciatica. 

James has not only found his groove now but lineups that also feature him without Reaves and Doncic have thrived, mainly because of the toughness and tenacity those groups play with – which was on display Thursday.

The Lakers have gone 4-4 in the eight games Doncic has missed so far this season – a significant dip from the 27-15 record they have in the games he’s played. 

Luke Kennard is questionable to make his Lakers debut Saturday, with the official designation being “trade pending.” The Warriors will be without star guard Steph Curry.