Overview
- The Lakers announced Friday that Luka Dončić will miss Saturday, Jan. 17 at Portland with left groin soreness.
- The issue surfaced during warm-ups before Monday’s game against the Kings; he then played three games, including a 39-point outing vs. the Hornets where he exited in visible pain.
- Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) remain out, while Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and Jaxson Hayes (left hamstring tendinopathy) are listed as questionable.
- Dončić leads the NBA at 33.6 points per game with heavy minutes, and the Lakers have dropped eight of their past 13 to fall to 24-15 and sixth in the West.
- With Dončić sidelined, ball-handling duties are expected to shift to depth options Kobe Bufkin and Gabe Vincent as frontcourt availability shapes the rotation against Portland.