Overview
- ESPN’s Shams Charania said Dončić is expected to play if his workout went smoothly, and he was later upgraded to probable per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, after initially being listed as questionable.
- Dončić left Saturday’s loss to the Clippers with a lower-left leg contusion and missed Tuesday’s defeat in Phoenix as the 19-9 Lakers slid to back-to-back losses.
- The Lakers’ latest injury notes list Rui Hachimura as probable, Jaxson Hayes ruled out with an ankle issue, and Gabe Vincent out, with Austin Reaves having returned against the Suns.
- Houston has its own concerns as Alperen Şengün is questionable, with other Rockets listed as game-time decisions during a stretch in which they’ve dropped several recent games.
- If cleared, Dončić is expected to debut his Jordan Luka 5 signature shoe, after a playful pregame video in which he teased handing the Rockets “tough L’s.”