The Los Angeles Lakers injury report lists Luka Doncic (left finger sprain, left leg contusion) and Marcus Smart (right quad contusion) as questionable for Friday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
LeBron James (right sciatica), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain), Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) all remain out.
Doncic being upgraded to questionable is a sign he could return after missing the last three games due to multiple injuries. When Lakers head coach JJ Redick spoke about Doncic’s status before Wednesday’s game in Minnesota, he sounded confident that the superstar would be back in the lineup soon.
“With a contusion, it’s a day-to-day thing,” Redick said. “The swelling has gone down a little bit. His finger, it looks like he has 1½ fingers now, and not two. So he’s progressing. And we’re hopeful at some point in the next little bit, next couple games, we’ll have an opportunity to have him back in the lineup.”
Doncic was on a tear for the Lakers to start the season, albeit in a small sample. In his first two games, the 26-year-old averaged 46 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists, so getting him back on the floor would be a huge boost.
Smart, meanwhile, has missed the last two games but has a chance of returning on Friday night against his former team. The Lakers have lacked ball-handlers and perimeter defenders with so many players out, so getting Smart and Doncic back would give Redick more depth to work with.
There is some extra motivation for Smart playing the Grizzlies, but it’s also the Lakers’ first group play game of the Emirates NBA Cup so there should be motivation all around to close their road trip with another victory.
LeBron James, Luka Doncic & more reactions to Austin Reaves game-winner
Currently sitting at 3-2, the Lakers have managed to stay afloat despite LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart and others being out of the lineup. The main reason from that has been the play of Austin Reaves, who hit a game-winner to help the Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
After Reaves’ latest incredible performance, a number of teammates and members of the Lakers and NBA family took to social media to give him a shoutout, including LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Jarred Vanderbilt, Pau Gasol, Magic Johnson, Alex Caruso, Josh Hart and others.
With Doncic potentially returning and James not far behind, the Lakers will have a three-headed monster that will be tough for any team to stop.
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