By Sunday 
Key Players Missing as Lakers Face a Grueling Schedule
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a brutal stretch, and their injury report just got worse. Star guard Luka Doncic has been ruled out for Friday’s critical matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to left calf injury management and a right ankle sprain. This comes after Doncic put up a spectacular 45-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks, though it wasn’t enough to prevent the Lakers from suffering their third consecutive loss.
The shorthanded Lakers now find themselves in a precarious position, especially with multiple other key players also sidelined.
Injury List Keeps Growing
Doncic’s absence isn’t the only concern. The Lakers have already been without LeBron James, who is nursing a left groin strain, Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), and Jaxson Hayes (right knee contusion). On top of that, Gabe Vincent (left knee injury management) and Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle injury management) are listed as doubtful, while Trey Jemison III is questionable due to illness.
With such a depleted roster, the Lakers face an uphill battle against the Nuggets, a team they are 6.0-point underdogs against, according to oddsmakers.
Toughest Stretch of the Season
The Lakers’ schedule has been relentless. They are in the midst of playing six games in just eight days, with three separate back-to-back sets.
“I don’t think I’ve ever went through something like that,” Doncic admitted following the Lakers’ loss in Milwaukee. “But at the end of the day, we’re getting paid to do that and there shouldn’t be any excuses that you’re tired. You live for this. Just gotta have great recovery after every game and just keep going.”
However, it turns out Doncic himself needs more recovery time, adding to the team’s struggles.
Despite the setbacks, Doncic remains optimistic: “We got three really important players out, so it’s always gonna be tough… But the winning teams always go through something, and we’re kind of experiencing that now.”
The Lakers are hoping they don’t experience a free fall in the standings as a result.
History Repeating for LeBron?
The team’s current losing streak began when LeBron James suffered his groin injury in Boston. Lakers fans may recall a similar scenario in the 2018-19 season when James missed 17 games due to a groin issue. At the time, the Lakers were in fourth place in the Western Conference, but without him, they went 5-12 and missed the playoffs.
This time, the Lakers are banking on the cushion they built with their 20 wins in 25 games before their recent struggles. But with a brutal upcoming schedule—including back-to-back games against the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, followed by another back-to-back against the Nuggets and Bucks—they are in desperate need of reinforcements.
Austin Reaves Must Step Up Again
With so many stars sidelined, head coach JJ Redick has no choice but to turn to his remaining healthy players. That means a heavy workload for Austin Reaves, who previously stepped up with a career-high 45-point performance in a shorthanded win over the Indiana Pacers.
Aside from Reaves, Redick will rely on Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Jordan Goodwin, and Shake Milton to keep the team afloat. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ bench—featuring Christian Koloko, Markieff Morris, Alex Len, Bronny James, and Cam Reddish—will need to step up in whatever minutes they receive.
As the Lakers battle through injuries and exhaustion, their ability to weather the storm could determine their postseason fate.