Luka Doncic was taken off the team’s status report ahead of Sunday’s game against Philadelphia after he and his fiancée welcomed their second child on Saturday. Doncic had missed the previous two games, but before the Lakers’ Friday matchup against Boston, coach J.J. Redick expressed hope that Doncic might return for the final game of the road trip. The Lakers (16-6) split their Thursday games, winning a close three-point contest in Toronto before suffering a heavy loss in Boston.
LeBron James also sat out Friday’s game due to sciatica and arthritis in his left foot, and his participation on Sunday remains uncertain. The 40-year-old has played only six of the Lakers’ 22 games this season. Meanwhile, guard Marcus Smart will miss his sixth straight game due to a strained left lower back muscle.
Doncic, who shared a photo of his newborn daughter Olivia on social media, leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 35.3 points per game. If he plays against the 76ers (13-9), the matchup will feature three of the league’s top five scorers. Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey ranks third with 31.6 points per game, while Lakers guard Austin Reeves is fifth with 29.3 points per game. Reeves’ standout season has been crucial for the Lakers, who have gone 4-2 without Doncic, with Reeves averaging 40 points per game in those games.
Fan Take: This news is significant for basketball fans as it highlights the balancing act players face between professional commitments and personal milestones. Seeing top scorers like Doncic and Maxey compete while managing health and family matters adds depth to the sport, emphasizing resilience and the human side of basketball.
