Luka Doni, star point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, will sit out Thursdays game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sprained right ankle. This marks the second night of a back-to-back for L.A., following their 120-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Despite playing through the injury the night before, Doni posted an impressive 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in 32 minutes. However, the team is prioritizing his long-term health, especially with the playoffs approaching.
This game against the Bucks is the final contest in a grueling stretch of six games in eight days for the Lakers, a result of a makeup game against the San Antonio Spurs that had been postponed due to the L.A. wildfires. So far, L.A. has managed a 3-2 record through the first five games of this stretch. Doni had also missed a game last week due to the ankle sprain and additional injury management for his left calf.
The Lakers will also be without LeBron James (groin strain) and Rui Hachimura (knee tendinopathy) for this matchup, making it an uphill battle against a fully-loaded Bucks squad. With two of their primary stars out, players like Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Gabe Vincent will need to step up significantly to fill the void. The Lakers have shown resilience in the past when Doni has been absent, but this will be another challenging test for the team.
Without Doni, who has been a key figure since joining the Lakers, the team will need to dig deep to continue their playoff push. The 5-time All-NBA first-team selection has been pivotal to L.A.s championship hopes, especially in a tough Western Conference filled with dominant teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets. The absence of both Doni and James leaves the team in a difficult spot, but they are hopeful that the supporting cast can rise to the occasion.
Looking ahead, Doni is expected to return for the Lakers next game against the Chicago Bulls. In the meantime, the team will focus on staying healthy and building chemistry as they push toward the playoffs. As Jarred Vanderbilt emphasized, the primary goal for L.A. in the coming weeks is simply to get healthy and continue to rest up during this demanding stretch of the season.
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