For Los Angeles Lakers fans, their Christmas has been wrapped with good news.
After missing one game with a lower left leg contusion, Luka Dončić is expected to return for Wednesday night’s Christmas matchup against the Houston Rockets, giving the Lakers a timely boost as they try to stabilize after an uneven stretch.
“Lakers say Luka Dončić (lower left leg contusion) has been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game versus Houston,” Andscape’s Marc J. Spears reported on X. “Jaxson Hayes (left ankle soreness) has been downgraded to out.”
The update capped a steady trend toward Dončić’s return following Tuesday’s 132–108 loss to the Phoenix Suns, a game he watched from the sideline as Los Angeles struggled to generate offense or contain Phoenix defensively.
Lakers Cautious With Dončić After Leg Collision
The Lakers’ conservative approach stems from both the nature of the injury and Dončić’s history.
Dončić suffered the contusion late in the first half of Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers after colliding with guard Bogdan Bogdanović. He was visibly hobbling before halftime and informed the coaching staff that he could not continue.
Head coach JJ Redick said the team is being careful.
“It’s happened a bunch this season,” Redick said after Monday’s practice. “We’re looking at ways to better protect his legs when there are collisions like that.”
Redick described Dončić as “doing fine” and emphasized that the injury was not believed to be structural.
ESPN: ‘Very Real Possibility’ Dončić Would Play
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin first signaled optimism.
“They’re saying this is just a bruise,” McMenamin said on NBA Today. “They’re going to be working on some sort of wrap or padding that Luka can wear on the leg to protect from things like the knee that he took from Bogdanović… but there’s still a possibility — a very real possibility — that he feels good enough to go Thursday against the Rockets.”
That “very real possibility” has now become a near certainty.
Injury History Informs Lakers’ Approach
The Lakers’ caution is informed by Dončić’s recent past.
During his final seasons in Dallas, Dončić battled multiple calf strains that repeatedly sidelined him. Those lingering injuries contributed to the Mavericks’ increasing concern about his long-term durability and ultimately played a role in the franchise’s decision to move him.
While the current injury is officially a contusion, not a muscle strain, the Lakers have treated it with the same level of care — preferring prevention over risk.
Luka Dončić Returns as Hayes Exits
While Dončić is set to return, the Lakers will be without Jaxson Hayes, who was downgraded to out with left ankle soreness after leaving Tuesday’s game early.
Hayes logged just five minutes against Phoenix, finishing with two points and one rebound before being ruled out.
His absence comes as Deandre Ayton has returned from a sore elbow. Ayton posted 12 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday against the team that drafted him first overall in 2018, but the Lakers still fell to 5–5 over their last 10 games.
Off-Court: Dončić Launches ‘Luka 5’ Signature Shoe
Dončić’s return also coincides with the launch of his new signature sneaker, the “Luka 5.”
A promotional video announcing the shoe’s release featured Dončić playfully writing a letter about being a “bad man,” with the shoes presented as an apology gift. The spot included appearances by former NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, longtime friend Boban Marjanović, and an actor portraying a referee — each receiving a pair.
The campaign’s tagline: “Bad Luka. Nice shoes.”
Christmas Game Offers Chance for Lakers’ Reset
The Lakers now turn their attention to Houston, where Dončić’s return provides not just a scoring lift but emotional momentum.
Los Angeles has not been in crisis — but it has been uneven.
The return of its franchise star on the league’s biggest regular-season stage offers a chance to reset the tone, restore rhythm, and remind the rest of the league what the Lakers look like at full strength.
On Christmas night, the Lakers won’t just get their star back.
They’ll get their identity back, too.
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