Will five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers be available for the TNT matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday?
As per an injury report released on Thursday morning, the 6-foot-6 superstar was officially deemed questionable to play due to a painful right ankle.
If the Lakers were merely without Doncic, that would be one matter; however, Los Angeles is now beset by numerous injuries and could greatly benefit from the presence of its premier player.
LeBron James, a 21-time All-Star power forward for the Los Angeles team, is expected to be sidelined for at least another week due to a left groin strain. Starting small forward Rui Hachimura has been incapacitated due to left patellar tendinopathy. Starting centre Jaxson Hayes will also be unavailable due to a persistent right knee injury.
Reserve centre Maxi Kleber, obtained in the significant Doncic trade with Los Angeles, is still recuperating from surgery on his right foot. Novice guard Bronny James has been assigned to Los Angeles’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
The Bucks are now without essential sixth man power forward/center Bobby Portis, who is serving a 25-game league suspension.
Doncic’s status for Thursday’s matchup against the Bucks has been officially disclosed. Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that Doncic will be accessible.
The Bucks, with a record of 36-28, now hold the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference due to a tiebreaker advantage over the Indiana Pacers. The 40-23 Lakers are the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Both teams are experiencing losing streaks, with the Bucks having dropped their previous three games and the Lakers being on a two-game decline.
When in good health this season, Doncic has been exceptionally formidable. In 12 games for Los Angeles, the 26-year-old has averaged 24.5 points with shooting splits of .399/.322/.747, along with 8.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Although those shooting statistics are, undoubtedly, somewhat unimpressive, Doncic’s overall performance in his 34 healthy games with the Lakers and Mavericks reflects a significantly higher shooting percentage. .442/.343/.759
