Lakers to Face Trail Blazers Without Luka Dončić, Who’s Out With Groin Soreness
PORTLAND - The Lakers will head into Saturday’s matchup against the Trail Blazers without their superstar guard. Luka Dončić has been ruled out due to soreness in his left groin, the team announced Friday. It’s a tough blow for a Lakers squad that’s already navigating a rough patch and now has to do it without the league’s leading scorer.
This will mark Dončić’s eighth missed game of the season. In the 32 games he has suited up for, he’s been nothing short of electric - averaging a league-best 33.6 points per game, alongside 8.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds.
He’s been the engine for a Lakers offense that, when clicking, can hang with anyone in the league. Without him, L.A. holds a 4-3 record - respectable, but a clear step down from when their star is on the floor.
Despite the injury, Dončić remains at the top of the Western Conference All-Star voting after the second round of returns. It’s a testament to just how impactful he’s been this season - not just statistically, but stylistically. He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s doing it with flair, control, and a level of command that’s made him must-watch basketball.
The injury comes on the heels of a massive individual performance. Dončić dropped 39 points in Thursday’s loss to the Hornets, knocking down six triples - his second-highest mark from deep this season. It was another reminder of how dangerous he is when he gets rolling, even if the team result didn’t go his way.
After the game, Dončić didn’t sugarcoat things. “I want to win every game, so it doesn't matter if you come from a loss or a win. So I just want to win every game because obviously we had a great start and then we just kind of fell off,” he said.
That “fall off” is starting to show in the standings. The Lakers have dropped four of their last five and now sit at 24-15, holding the fifth seed in the Western Conference. It’s not panic time, but the margin for error is shrinking - especially in a loaded West.
And the injury report doesn’t stop with Dončić. Backup center Jaxson Hayes is questionable for Saturday with a lingering left hamstring tendinopathy that’s already sidelined him for the last two games. Adding to the frontcourt concerns, starting center Deandre Ayton was also listed as questionable due to soreness in his left knee.
So, the Lakers are heading into Portland short-handed - and not just at the top. Without Dončić orchestrating the offense and with potential depth issues in the paint, they’ll need a full-team effort to avoid dropping another one in what’s becoming a critical stretch of the season.
For now, the focus shifts to staying afloat and getting healthy. Because if the Lakers want to make a serious push this spring, they’ll need their MVP candidate - and the rest of the roster - firing on all cylinders.