Five-time All-NBA First Team Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is averaging 46.0 points a game through his first two contests for the 1-1 Lakers, so it is perhaps understandable that LA might seek to rest the 6-foot-6 superstar against one of the worst in the West, the befuddling Sacramento Kings, for their first encounter of the regular season on Sunday.
Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Doncic has been downgraded to questionable to suit up due to a left finger sprain. The 26-year-old suffered the injury midway through the second quarter of LA’s demonstrative 128-110 beatdown of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, but it didn’t seem to have much of an impact, as he submitted a masterful 49-point, 11-rebound, eight-assist night. Shooting guard Austin Reaves chipped in a 25-point, 11-assist, seven-rebound effort of his own.
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Both LA forward Rui Hachimura (23 points on 10-of-13 shooting) and center Deandre Ayton (15 points and eight rebounds) had respectful offensive nights. Marcus Smart finally looked like Marcus Smart defensively, hustling for two steals and hounding Timberwolves guards while nabbing a team-high +24 plus-minus.
Center Jaxson Hayes, meanwhile, has been upgraded after sitting out that Timberwolves clash. He’s now questionable, too, with a sore left knee. 21-time All-NBA Lakers power forward LeBron James remains on the shelf with his right-side sciatic injury.
Reserve Lakers big man Maxi Kleber and rookie second-round pick forward Adou Thiero are both also going to miss the contest with an abdominal muscle strain and a left knee surgery recovery, respectively.
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Doncic is looking like an MVP through his first two regular season games, averaging 46.0 points on .620/.318/.793 shooting splits, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 rejections for Los Angeles.
After a total fitness makeover and a spirited EuroLeague run for Slovenia this offseason, Doncic is looking like he did in the early phase of his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks.
Should Doncic sit, head coach JJ Redick is likely to further lean on Reaves to handle most of his offense, and ball handlers like Gabe Vincent and Smart could get additional touches.
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