The Los Angeles Lakers provided a critical update on franchise star Luka Dončić, ruling him out for Tuesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns as he continues to recover from a lower left leg contusion.
Dončić sustained the injury during Saturday’s 103–88 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome, forcing him to miss the finale of the Lakers’ four-game road trip. While the team initially listed Dončić as day-to-day, coach JJ Redick confirmed Monday that the Lakers are proceeding cautiously.
“It’s happened a bunch this season,” Redick said. “We’re looking at ways to better protect his legs when there are collisions like that.”
Injury Occurred After Collision in First Half
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Dončić suffered the contusion following a collision with Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanović late in the first half. Dončić was visibly hobbling before halftime and informed the coaching staff he could not continue.
“I saw him hobbling toward the end of the first half,” said Redick after the loss. “He came to me at halftime and said he couldn’t go.”
Dončić left the arena without addressing reporters and was later seen with his lower leg heavily wrapped during Monday’s practice. The injury is not believed to be related to a similar contusion that sidelined him for three games in late October, though the visual similarities sparked immediate concern.
Tough Half Before Exit for NBA Scoring Leader
Before leaving the game, Dončić endured one of his more difficult halves of the season. He finished with 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting, including 1-for-6 from three-point range, and committed four turnovers as the Lakers trailed 54–39 at halftime.
Entering the game, Dončić was leading the NBA in scoring at a career-best 35.2 points per game, while also averaging 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals. His absence exposed Los Angeles’ thin margin for error, especially with Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Deandre Ayton also sidelined by injuries.
LeBron James Carries Load in Loss to Clippers
With Dončić unavailable, LeBron James was left as the lone remaining star for Los Angeles. The 40-year-old forward delivered a season-high 36 points on 15-for-28 shooting, nearly rallying the Lakers after they fell behind by as many as 22 points in the third quarter.
James helped cut the deficit to seven early in the fourth quarter before the Clippers pulled away, underscoring both his continued brilliance and the strain placed on the Lakers without their top offensive engine.
Deandre Ayton Expected to Return vs. Former Team
GettyDeandre Ayton is expected to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers after a brief absence with an elbow injury.
While Dončić’s status remains uncertain beyond Tuesday, the Lakers did receive a timely boost elsewhere in the lineup. Redick confirmed that Ayton is expected to return against Phoenix after missing two games with elbow soreness.
“DA was a full participant, and I think he’s off the injury list,” Redick told reporters.
Ayton’s injury occurred during a Dec. 14 win over the Suns — his former team — forcing the Lakers to rely more heavily on Jaxson Hayes, who averaged 12.0 points while shooting 90 percent from the field in Ayton’s absence.
Ayton’s Resurgence Key for Shorthanded Lakers
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Ayton has quietly stabilized the Lakers’ frontcourt after an uneven final season in Portland. The former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 15.9 points on 71.0 percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 29.4 minutes per game, providing the Lakers with a reliable interior presence on both ends of the floor.
As the Lakers navigate mounting injury concerns surrounding Dončić, Ayton’s return provides some relief — but Redick acknowledged that protecting his star guard will remain a priority moving forward.
For now, the Lakers will attempt to finish their road trip without Dončić, hoping caution in the short term prevents a longer absence down the line.
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