Lakers Start Tough Road Trip Without Luka Doncic
So, here’s what’s going on right now with the Los Angeles Lakers as they head into this challenging stretch of their road schedule. The team has officially started its three-game trip without Luka Dončić, who has stepped away for personal reasons — and it’s been confirmed that he’s in Slovenia for the birth of his second child. Naturally, the organization has excused him, and it’s being treated as an indefinite short-term absence.
Before the Lakers tipped off against the Toronto Raptors, head coach JJ Redick made it clear that Dončić’s return doesn’t have a set timeline yet. He mentioned that Luka is away for understandable family reasons and that the team hopes to have him back soon, but a specific date isn’t locked in. Because this game in Toronto is the first leg of a back-to-back, it’s widely expected that he will also miss Friday’s matchup in Boston against the Celtics.
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This road trip is a pretty demanding one for the Lakers. It begins in Toronto, continues in Boston, and wraps up on Sunday in Philadelphia. Once that’s done, the team briefly returns home for what should be an intense NBA Cup quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs. Right after that, another road trip begins. Given all this travel, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lakers wait until they’re back in Los Angeles for Dončić to rejoin the squad, depending on how things unfold for him and his family.
What makes his absence so significant is the level at which he’s been playing. Dončić has been on an incredible tear this season, leading the entire league in scoring at 35.3 points per game. On top of that, he’s been averaging 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists — nearly a triple-double each night — while helping the Lakers establish a strong 15-5 record, good for second place in the Western Conference. In his most recent outing, a tough loss to the Phoenix Suns, he still put up 38 points, grabbed 11 boards, and dished out 5 assists. So his impact is obvious every time he steps on the court.
The Lakers will also be without Marcus Smart, who’s sitting out due to lower-back injury management. On the other side, Toronto will be missing Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, both dealing with injuries as well. So this game has turned into a test of depth for both teams.
For now, the Lakers will have to navigate this road stretch without their leading star. And while the timeline for Dončić’s return remains uncertain, his absence comes with plenty of understanding — after all, welcoming a new child is bigger than basketball. The team has handled previous games without him well, and this trip will be another opportunity to see how they respond under pressure until he’s ready to rejoin them.
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