Luka Dončić is not on the NBA’s official injury report for the Los Angeles Lakers’ game Friday, Oct. 30, against the Golden State Warriors. He missed Wednesday’s 103-87 win over the Los Angeles Clippers after experiencing back tightness. Friday’s game at Chase Center is the opening game of the group stage of the NBA Cup.
Before the Clippers game, Lakers coach JJ Redick said both Dončić and forward Ziaire Williams woke up that day with “tightness for Luka, soreness for Ziaire.” He called the decision precautionary, saying the team was “Just being overly cautious.” According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the Lakers were not concerned about a long-term issue with Dončić’s back.
The Clippers game was the second night of the Lakers’ first back-to-back of the season, and it came during a stretch of five games in seven nights. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, he scored 41 points in a 136-129 loss to Portland, playing 37 minutes in the first game of that back-to-back. That came two days after his season-high 52 points in a win over the Utah Jazz on Oct. 25.
Through four games, Dončić is averaging 36.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He is shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.6% from three and 87.5% from the line. The Lakers are 4-1.
Ziaire Williams is listed as questionable with left foot soreness. Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero remain out.
The Lakers beat Golden State 127-105 in the Oct. 21 season opener, a game that included a running exchange between Dončić and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Afterward, Lendeborg said he had lost respect for Dončić because of what he saw as complaining to officials.
Redick Is Spending Regular-Season Games to Protect Dončić
The Lakers made their choice right after Dončić played 37 minutes and scored 41 points. They sat their leading scorer for a winnable game against a city rival instead of playing him through tightness during a dense part of the schedule.
Beating the Clippers by 16 without him gives Redick room to make the same call again. It shows that a team built around Dončić’s usage can win on some nights without it. The Lakers appear willing to give up some October games to keep their primary creator available later in the season.
Dončić Returns Friday Night With No Injury Designation
The Lakers play Golden State on Friday night in the NBA Cup group-stage opener. Dončić has no injury designation, and Williams’s status will be decided before tipoff. The game is also the first meeting between Dončić and Lendeborg since their exchange in the opener.
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