Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned Luka Doncic may debut both Saturday in opposition to Indiana or Monday in opposition to Utah.
Doncic, who the Lakers acquired in a blockbuster commerce for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round decide, hasn’t performed since Christmas due to a calf harm. After the Lakers’ Wednesday observe, Doncic participated in a 5-on-5 recreation with low-minute gamers and training associates.
“We’re sort of simply assessing it day-by-day. We hope to have him again inside the subsequent few video games,” Redick mentioned after observe. “He was a participant. We simply had non-contact observe right this moment. However we acquired some good work in for about 45 minutes. And he’ll have a stay-ready recreation sooner or later. And over the subsequent two days, Thursday, Friday, he’ll have some extra alternatives to play dwell basketball. After which we’ll decide on Saturday. If it’s not Saturday, hopefully it’s Monday.”
Doncic mentioned he took extra time on this restoration for his calf harm with a view to get issues again to 100%.
After Wednesday’s observe, Doncic’s buddy and former teammate Dorian Finney-Smith defended Doncic and his conditioning.
“I do know him, man. He needs to play the entire recreation. Now I feel he performed like 40 minutes each recreation final playoffs,” Finney-Smith mentioned. “In order that’s one factor about L, he a hooper, he wish to play. So I don’t actually take a look at the noise, I take a look at his manufacturing and he produced. … If I’m placing up them sort of numbers, perhaps I should be 270.”