The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Friday night’s game against the Boston Celtics and LeBron James (right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis) is doubtful while Luka Doncic (personal) and Marcus Smart (left lumbar muscle strain) remain out.
Doncic will miss his second consecutive game on Friday night when the Lakers take on the Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back. Reports have indicated that he returned to Slovenia for the birth of his second child, but this will be Doncic’s sixth missed game of the season.
Luka is the NBA’s leading scorer this season averaging 35.3 points along with 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists and has been absolutely dominant any time he’s been on the court. The Lakers were able to come together without him for a huge win over the Toronto Raptors, but the task may be even tougher as they take on their rivals on Friday night.
James being listed as doubtful should also come as no surprise as he has yet to play in both legs of a back-to-back since returning to the lineup and the Lakers are being cautious in building him up as the season goes along in order to hopefully, at some point, be able to suit up for back-to-backs.
Being without both James and Doncic is nothing new for this Lakers team and the pressure will once again be on Austin Reaves to carry the load and lead the way offensively. Thankfully, he has been up to the task this year as he is averaging a career-high 28.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists and is coming off a 44-point performance against the Raptors. Putting together another performance like that in Boston would surely keep him in the good graces of Lakers fans for years to come.
Additionally, Smart, who also sat out Thursday night’s game against the Raptors, will again be out against his former team due to a left lumbar muscle strain, which is a new classification for his back injury that has now kept him out five straight games.
The Lakers have benefitted from his energy and aggression especially defensively so other role players will need to step up.
Head coach JJ Redick turned to rookie Adou Thiero and two-way player Nick Smith Jr. in Toronto with both giving the team some solid minutes, so expect both to get a good look again. Additionally, Redick could also turn to Jarred Vanderbilt or Bronny James, both of whom have been out of the rotation, if he feels the Lakers could use a boost defensively.
Lakers’ LeBron James believes double-digit scoring streak ended in the ‘perfect way’
In the Lakers victory the Raptors, LeBron James saw his double-digit scoring streak of 1,297 games snapped. While he could have taken the shot to win the game and keep his streak alive, he instead found Rui Hachimura wide open in the corner for the buzzer-beater, which he believes was the perfect way for it to end.
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