SHOCK: OFFICIAL LAKERS REPORT CONFIRMS LUKA DONCIC REMAINS SIDELINED FOR TUESDAY NIGHT SUNS GAME
Luka Doncic is officially out for the Lakers vs Suns game as the team manages his recurring left calf contusion.
So, Luka Doncic is out tonight because of a leg bruise he got against the Clippers. Here's the lowdown on what's going on and when he might be back.
Why Isn't Luka Playing?
Luka's sitting this one out because of that lower left leg contusion—a bruise he picked up in the Clippers game last Saturday. The Lakers are in Phoenix on Tuesday, December 23, trying to get back on track after that Clippers loss. They were down big at halftime and couldn't catch up after Luka left. GCStateSports on X said Luka's out, along with Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent.
Before the Phoenix game, the Lakers said Luka's officially out with the leg bruise, so no surprises there. Redick mentioned this isn't the first time Luka's had calf issues this season, and it's a bit worrying that it's acting up again after some rough play. LukaUpdates on X also said he's out with the same injury.
Without Luka, Austin Reaves and the other guards have to step up, and guys who usually don't get many chances will need to create more plays. These games show how much the team relies on Luka. Remember those times in Dallas when he was out, and the offence just stalled?
What Happened to Him?
Luka hurt his lower left leg in the first half against the Clippers. He tried to play through it, but after halftime, when the pain got worse, he had to stop. He had 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes, but he wasn't moving well, turned it over four times, and couldn't get his usual jump. LALMuse on X reported that Luka wouldn't be back that night, and the Lakers confirmed the leg bruise.
The team doctors said it's a calf contusion—no tear or fracture, just a deep bruise. Putting weight on it is painful; Lakers coach Redick saw him limping toward the end of the half. Doncic apparently told him he couldn't keep going.
When's He Coming Back?
Right now, they're calling him day-to-day. People are saying he might be back as soon as the Lakers' Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets if his leg gets better with treatment. Some are even saying Christmas is a possible return date, with the team looking into extra padding for his leg.
It doesn't seem like he'll be out for long, but calf bruises can be tricky if he comes back too soon. It's not clear if the doctors will clear him for the next game, but the team thinks it'll be a week or so, not longer.
Injury Report and What It Means
So, Luka's out with the leg bruise. The Lakers also have other guys out long-term, which means Redick has had to shorten his rotation. The Suns have some health issues, too, but the big news is still Luka being out. Someone noted that the betting line changed a lot once they knew Luka wouldn't play.
RORY MCILROY TARGETS SEVENTH MAJOR AT ARONIMINK FOLLOWING EMOTIONAL MASTERS DEFENSE
No long break for Rory McIlroy! After his 6th major win, McIlroy eyes the PGA Championship at Aronimink this May.
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Rory McIlroy isn’t following the same script after this Masters win. When reporters asked if he’d take another long break, as he did in 2025, Rory had a different plan in mind.
He’s not disappearing for months this time. Instead, he’s taking a couple of weeks off before jumping back into PGA Tour action. The next big event on the calendar is the PGA Championship, starting May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, but it sounds like Rory wants to get some tournament play before then.
He talked about his mindset shift after winning again at Augusta. “My schedule’s going to be different this year,” he said on April 13. “Last year, I thought winning the Grand Slam would be the destination. But actually, it’s just part of the ride. Now that I’ve won my sixth major, I feel great about my game and my body.
“I waited ages to win the Masters, and then I won two in a row. I definitely want to enjoy this. I’ll take a couple weeks off, but I don’t think I’ll hit that motivation lull I felt last year after the win.”
So, what comes next for Rory? He’s skipping the RBC Heritage this week, and his appearance at the Zurich Classic isn’t confirmed either.
Then, there’s Donald Trump, who might’ve let the cat out of the bag. After congratulating Rory on social media, Trump said he was looking forward to watching him at Doral during the Cadillac Championship on April 30. That’s not an official confirmation, but it’s a pretty solid clue that Rory’s next start could be there.
Now that he’s up to six majors and finally has back-to-back Masters titles, Rory’s thinking ahead. The next big stop? The PGA Championship, where he’ll chase number seven. But he’s not feeling satisfied just yet.
“I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but this is just part of the journey,” he said. “I’ve still got things I want to accomplish even as I make sure I enjoy the moment, too.”
LUKA DONčIć'S RETURN TIMELINE REVEALED; ESPN ANALYST HINTS AT LATE FIRST-ROUND COMEBACK
Ramona Shelburne reveals a potential return timeline for Luka Dončić. Discover how the Lakers can save their season.
So, when exactly might Luka Dončić make his return from that hamstring injury? A leading ESPN analyst has put forward a timeline that, if it holds true, could significantly improve the Lakers’ chances in the playoffs.
Why is this important? Because the timeline hints at Dončić possibly coming back during the first round, assuming the Lakers manage to push the series beyond a quick exit.
Dončić, originally from Slovenia, has quite a background. As a teenager, he spent five years playing for Real Madrid, even leading them to a EuroLeague title in 2018. That same year, the Atlanta Hawks picked him third overall in the draft but traded him immediately to Dallas.
Right now, Dončić is back in Spain for treatment on the hamstring he hurt early April during a Lakers loss to the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reports from the Los Angeles Times suggest he’s undergoing advanced therapies like ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections, approaches designed to accelerate healing.
It’s interesting to note that while the US only allows PRP and stem cell treatments using the patient’s own cells without manipulation, European regulations are less strict. This means doctors there can boost the concentration of anti-inflammatory agents or culture stem cells over several days, potentially speeding up recovery.
So, if these treatments yield the hoped-for results, when might Dončić be back on the court? ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared her perspective during a recent interview.
She pointed out that Dončić’s return could give LeBron James a fitting finale in his long and storied NBA career, basically setting the stage for a memorable chapter. Shelburne mentioned that there’s a chance Luka could rejoin the team later in the first-round series. He’s actively receiving daily treatment in Spain and stays in constant communication with teammates, which sounds promising.
Even if he doesn’t make it back for the entire first round, that window of possibility offers some hope. If the Lakers can stretch their series by a couple of games at home, maybe Dončić’s comeback becomes more than just a distant dream.
Put simply, whether Dončić returns during the first round seems to hinge on whether the Lakers avoid a sweep by their likely first-round foe, the Houston Rockets.
Looking at the Lakers’ playoff picture with just one regular-season game left, they’re on a two-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s finale against the Utah Jazz, a team sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference.
Win that game, and the Lakers secure the No. 4 seed, thanks to tiebreakers over both Houston, trailing by one game, and the Denver Nuggets, a game ahead. That would set up a first-round matchup against Houston.
However, if the Lakers win and the Nuggets lose their last game to the Spurs, the Lakers could leap to the No. 3 seed and host the Minnesota Timberwolves instead.
