When Luka Doncic suffered a bruise on his left leg and missed the entire second half of a 103-88 loss to the Clippers at Intuit Dome on Saturday night, he became the latest in a growing list of sick Lakers players.
Doncic played 19 minutes in the first half but did not return in the third quarter. He had 12 points, five rebounds and two assists at the break. But Doncic struggled with his shooting, going four-for-13 from the field and one-for-six from three-point range.
Doncic entered as the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 35.2 points per game, and was third in assists, averaging 9.1. He torched the Clippers with 43 points in a win last month.
Rui Hachimura missed his first start of the season with a hip injury that is expected to keep him out for three to five days. Austin Reeves (left calf), DeAndre Ayton (left elbow) and Gabe Vincent (lower back tightness) are also out.
The Clippers also lost a key player on Saturday when center Ivica Zubac suffered a left ankle injury in the first quarter. Zubac, who has played every game this season and leads the team in rebounds and blocks, logged just 11 minutes.
The Clippers (7-21) entered the game tied for the worst record in the Western Conference. They have lost five straight games, eight straight at home and ten of their last 11 games overall.
They got off to a good start on Saturday, holding a 22-point lead over the Lakers (19-8), who cut their deficit to seven points in the fourth quarter before fading. The Lakers have had a down season in points.
Lakers star LeBron James fired a shot at several Clippers defenders during the Clippers’ 103-88 win on Saturday at Intuit Dome.
(Gina Ferrazzi/Los Angeles Times)
LeBron James led the Lakers, scoring a season-high 36 points. Jake Laravia scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Clippers, and James Harden added 21 points and 10 assists.
Before the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked how he would deal with a depleted roster.
“Just manage the game and play with the right spirit,” Reddick said.
Redick said Hachimura sat out after feeling pain in his groin against Utah on Thursday night. Reddick said Reeves “continues to push himself” to return soon, and Ayton had “swelling” in his elbow but put in a “fast and intense individual workout”.
Redick said it’s possible Reeves and Ayton will return Tuesday in Phoenix.
