Why Luka Doncic’s latest injury is worrying the Lakers

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The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a growing concern linked to superstar Luka Doncic.

Heading into their matchup with the LA Clippers, many expected the Lakers to come away with a straightforward win.

Instead, they were handed a 103-88 defeat, dropping their record to 19-8 for the season.

But the more pressing concern for Los Angeles is Luka Doncic, who picked up a leg contusion during that same game against the Clippers.

Doncic’s injury concerns have tended to pop up in December

Doncic has been crucial for the Lakers, averaging 34.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game this season.

But with a leg contusion suffered against the Clippers, he’s now expected to spend some time on the sidelines.

Although this particular injury doesn’t look serious at first glance, it fits a pattern for Doncic, who has often run into fitness issues around this time of year.

He picked up an ankle problem in 2021 and missed time in 2022 with both quad and ankle injuries.

The same story continued in 2023 when a quad issue kept him out of several games. The following year was even worse — a calf strain forced him to miss nearly two months of action.

This December has brought another setback. If the Lakers don’t manage his recovery carefully, it could turn into a bigger problem for their season.

LeBron James reacts to Luka Doncic’s injury

Doncic picked up the injury in the first half and didn’t return after the break, leaving fans concerned as he limped off the court.

Following the game, LeBron James was asked about how Doncic’s absence could affect the team. The four-time NBA champion responded with a thoughtful answer.

“The worst thing about sports is injuries. Not just basketball, but sports in general. Whoever is in uniform, we have to go out and execute at the utmost pace that we can.

“Then on the other end, we got to defend,” James said.

The Lakers are still holding onto fourth place in the Western Conference, but that could change quickly if Doncic misses a significant amount of time.