LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Lakers’ season has hit a rocky patch, losing four of their last five games. Now, it faces a potentially more serious hurdle: the health of its star engine.
The team announced Friday that All-NBA guard Luka Doncic will miss Saturday’s road game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to left groin soreness, casting a shadow over a team already struggling for consistency.
For a franchise that dreams of contention, the sight of its best player limping to the locker room before the final buzzer as Doncic did after Thursday’s loss to Charlotte is an alarming signal.
A Week of Lingering Pain
Doncic’s current issue surfaced last Monday, January 12, before a game against the Sacramento Kings. “Before the game warming up, I felt something,” Doncic admitted afterward. True to his competitive nature, he played through the discomfort, even receiving treatment on his inner leg during the game on his way to a 42-point performance.
The pain persisted into a back-to-back set. Listed as questionable, Doncic suited up the very next night and led the Lakers to a rousing 141-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks with 27 points and 12 assists.
The crescendo came in Thursday’s deflating 135-117 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Doncic was spectacular, erupting for 19 first-quarter points and finishing with 39, but the Lakers’ defensive woes were glaring. More concerning was the visible pain Doncic displayed, walking off late in the game.
Statistical Dominance Amid Physical Toll
Sitting Doncic is a significant decision because of the monumental burden he carries. The 26-year-old Slovenian isn’t just playing at an MVP level; he is the league’s undisputed scoring leader, averaging a career-high 33.6 points per game to go with 7.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists.
This level of production comes with a cost. Doncic is averaging the fourth-highest minutes per game in the NBA at 36.4, a heavy workload for a player managing a nagging soft-tissue injury. This season marks his eighth missed game, and the Lakers hold a 4-3 record without him.
Luka Doncic’s Injury & Performance Timeline (Jan 2026)
| Date | Opponent | Status | Key Stat Line | Team Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 | Sacramento Kings | Played through soreness | 42 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB | Loss (124-112) |
| Jan 13 | Atlanta Hawks | Game-time decision, played | 27 PTS, 12 AST, 5 REB | Win (141-116) |
| Jan 15 | Charlotte Hornets | Played, visible discomfort | 39 PTS, 6 3PM, 4 AST | Loss (135-117) |
| Jan 17 | Portland Trail Blazers | Ruled OUT (left groin soreness) | — | — |
A Roster Stretched Thin
Doncic’s absence exacerbates existing problems for first-year coach JJ Redick. The Lakers’ injury report is lengthy: starting center Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and backup Jaxson Hayes (left hamstring) are both questionable for Saturday. Key scorer Austin Reaves remains out with a left calf strain.
This leaves a massive offensive and playmaking void. LeBron James will assume primary ball-handling duties, with players like Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent needing to step up. The situation also highlights the team’s lack of reliable depth, particularly on defense, where the Lakers rank in the bottom five of the league in defensive rating.
“The way we play against Atlanta… we told on ourselves [that we are capable],” Doncic said after the Hornets loss, pointing to the effort in the Hawks win as the standard. “We got to play like that. Playing fast, playing with physicality.” Without him, matching that intensity becomes a far greater challenge.
The Road Ahead and Bigger Questions
The immediate hope is that a one game rest will allow Doncic to return for Sunday’s home game against the Toronto Raptors, the second half of the back-to-back. The Lakers then embark on a daunting eight-game road trip.
Longer term, the episode raises familiar questions about sustainability. Can the Lakers’ top-heavy roster, constructed around two superstars in Doncic and the 41-year-old James, withstand the physical grind of an 82-game season and a deep playoff run without more consistent support?
For now, the focus is on the short-term recovery of their most important player. The Lakers’ championship aspirations, much like Doncic’s groin, are feeling the strain. How they manage both in the coming weeks will define their season.