Overview
- The team announced Friday that Luka Dončić will miss Saturday’s game in Portland with left groin soreness after playing through the issue this week and leading the NBA at 33.6 points per game.
- Jaxson Hayes has been diagnosed with left hamstring tendinopathy, has missed the last two games, and is listed as questionable for Portland, with Redick expressing hope for a return this weekend.
- Starting center Deandre Ayton was added to the injury report as questionable with left knee soreness, leaving Los Angeles potentially thin up front.
- Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) remain out, and Redick signaled readiness for guard Kobe Bufkin to contribute with backcourt duties shifting toward LeBron James and other role players.
- Saturday opens a Portland–Toronto back-to-back for a Lakers team that has lost four of five and struggled defensively, heightening the impact of short-term lineup changes.