The Los Angeles Lakers superstar had to leave the court early during the 119-115 win against the Philadelphia 76ers and did not return.
Luka Doncic left the court about three minutes before halftime after repeatedly grabbing his left thigh. According to the Lakers, he was taken out of the game due to problems with his left leg, and an MRI on Friday should now provide clarity on the exact diagnosis. It was already apparent that the Slovenian was playing with visible limitations. His frustration was clearly visible when he kicked the scorer’s table before leaving the court.
Before his exit, Doncic had 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists in just 16 minutes, shooting 3-for-10 from the field and committing five turnovers. He did not return to the court in the second half, with Rui Hachimura moving into the starting lineup and later contributing 14 points and seven rebounds.
Reaves shines off the bench
Despite the shock of their star’s departure, the Lakers salvaged the win. Austin Reaves took over offensive responsibility coming off the bench and shone with 35 points on 12/17 shooting from the field in just 25 minutes.
Doncic, who has already missed eight games this season due to various leg problems, currently leads the NBA with 33.4 points per game and is a key factor in the Lakers’ title race. Whether and how long he will be out now depends on the results of the upcoming MRI examination.
