The Lakers got the result they wanted Wednesday night, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 123-112 to stretch their winning streak to seven. But the mood around the team shifted fast once Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic both headed for the locker room with injury concerns.
Reaves was the first to leave, exiting early because of a heel injury. Doncic followed later in the game after landing awkwardly on Kyle Kuzma’s foot while going up for a 2-point shot late in the fourth quarter.
Doncic still finished the play. He made the basket, drew the foul, stayed in to shoot the free throw and complete the three-point play, then went back to the locker room.
Officials looked at the sequence for a possible reckless closeout, but ruled it a common foul.
Before leaving, Doncic put together another big night: 32 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 32 minutes. He shot 10-of-25 from the field, 5-of-12 from 3-point range and 7-of-10 at the line.
The injury scare landed especially hard because Doncic has been rolling to start the season. He had already missed two games while the team managed a back issue, but he’s been one of the early frontrunners for the MVP Award.
Through the early going, Doncic has been averaging a league-leading 39.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting 49.8 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from 3 and 88.1 percent from the free-throw line.
In Other News...
Lakers Rookie Suddenly Looks Like A Real Fit Next To Luka And Reaves
Arthur Kalumas strong summer has earned him a real foothold with the Lakers, enough to turn a promising camp run into a two-way contract and a longer look in the organization. The undrafted rookie forward impressed during NBA Summer League play, then got into preseason action as the team sorted out its back end of the roster and looked for players who could stay ready for bigger opportunities.
For now, Kaluma is expected to do most of his development work with the Coachella Valley Lakers while remaining on call for the NBA club, which is exactly the kind of path a young player has to embrace in a crowded system. He has not played in a regular-season game yet, but the early signs suggest the Lakers see a useful blend of energy and adaptability, the sort of profile that can matter when a team is trying to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. [Read more 🡒]
Bronny James Is Facing A Lakers Decision Fans Never Expected
The Lakers strong start has not stopped the conversation around the back end of the roster, where every minute and every mistake is getting magnified. NBA insider Jovan Buha recently raised the question of whether Bronny James should keep his spot, pointing to the guards limited production and the uneven play that has drawn criticism from some of the teams reserves in late-game situations.
Los Angeles has opened 11-2, so the focus has shifted from survival to fit, and that is where the discussion gets uncomfortable. Buha argued the Lakers could use a steadier ball-handler, which is why the idea of bringing in a more established veteran has entered the conversation while James remains under the microscope for what he has, and has not, provided so far. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Hot Start Puts One More Defense-First Move In Focus
The Lakers strong start has only sharpened the focus on how they want to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and defense remains the clearest priority. With the team already leaning into a more balanced identity, any move that adds a versatile stopper naturally gets attention, especially when it could help shore up the kind of perimeter resistance that matters most in the West.
One name now circulating in that conversation is Derrick Jones Jr., a familiar face to Doncic from their run together in the 2024 Finals. The Clippers could be willing to listen if Jones wants a change of scenery, which gives the Lakers a potential opening if they decide the fit is worth pursuing, and it is easy to see why a defender with that kind of athletic profile would appeal to a team trying to keep its early momentum going. [Read more 🡒]