The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a rough night at Crypto.com Arena - and not just because they lost. A 15-point defeat to their crosstown rivals, the Clippers, was more than just a tally in the loss column. It was a reminder of how thin the margin is for this team when they’re missing a key piece.
The Lakers opened the game ice-cold, putting up just 15 points in the first quarter. That kind of start is tough to recover from against any opponent, let alone a Clippers squad that’s been surging.
Offensively, the Lakers never found a rhythm, finishing with just three players in double figures. LeBron James once again carried the load, dropping 36 of the team’s 88 total points - a performance that was equal parts impressive and concerning, given how much he had to shoulder.
Jake LaRavia chipped in with a double-double - 12 points and 11 boards - showing some grit on both ends. Luka Dončić also added 12 points before exiting with an injury, and his absence was glaring the rest of the way.
Without Dončić, the Lakers’ offense stalled out. The team shot just 16% from beyond the arc - a number that speaks volumes about the lack of spacing and shot creation without their All-NBA playmaker.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are set to face the Phoenix Suns tonight, and they’ll get a bit of a boost with Austin Reaves returning from a calf injury. But the big name still missing from the lineup is Dončić, who will sit out once again. This marks his seventh missed game of the season - a stretch that’s starting to test the Lakers’ depth and ability to stay afloat in the Western Conference standings.
When Dončić has been on the floor, he’s been nothing short of spectacular. He’s currently leading the league in scoring with 34.1 points per game while also putting up 8.8 assists and 8.6 rebounds a night.
That kind of production doesn’t just elevate the Lakers - it defines them. His absence has left a clear void in their offensive flow and late-game execution.
There is, however, some optimism on the horizon. According to Lakers insider Dave McMenamin, there’s a chance Dončić could return as soon as Christmas Day when Los Angeles hosts the Houston Rockets.
That would be a timely return, not just for the holiday spotlight, but for a Lakers team that’s beginning to lose ground in the race for playoff positioning. They’re currently slipping behind the Spurs and Nuggets for the second and third seeds, and every game without Dončić makes the climb that much steeper.
If the Christmas return doesn’t happen, the next opportunity would be Sunday, Dec. 28, when the Lakers take on the Sacramento Kings. Either way, the clock is ticking. The Lakers need their star back - not just to win games, but to stabilize a team that’s struggling to find consistent footing without him.