The Lakers unveil their plan to help Luka Doncic recover from his injury
The Lakers are taking no chances with Luka Doncic after the superstar was ruled out with back tightness.
The Los Angeles Lakers received bad news ahead of their matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers : Luka Doncic has been ruled out of Wednesday’s game due to back tightness.
The absence comes just one day after the Lakers suffered their first loss of the season, falling 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers in a game where Doncic once again led the offense with 41 points, nine assists, and five rebounds .
The Slovenian star will miss his first game of the 2026-27 season , although the franchise does not believe there is a serious long-term concern. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic , Los Angeles decided to be cautious with its superstar because of the team’s demanding upcoming schedule.
“A source says the Lakers are being cautious with Dončić and the back tightness as the team plays Game 2 in a stretch where the Lakers play five times in seven days,” the insider wrote. “No longterm worry about his health at this time.”
In addition to Doncic, the Lakers will also be without Cameron Carr (oblique injury), Adou Thiero (injury management), and Ziaire Williams (foot issue) against the Clippers.
Luka Doncic off to a blazing start with Lakers
Despite the loss to Portland, Doncic has enjoyed a spectacular start to the new season. Through four games, he leads the NBA in scoring average at 36 points per game , while also contributing 6.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per contest .
The 27-year-old is coming off a historic performance against the Utah Jazz , where he recorded 52 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in a Lakers comeback victory.
His absence represents a major blow for a team that has built its new era around the Slovenian star following the departure of LeBron James , the extension of Austin Reaves , and the acquisition of Walker Kessler .
Lakers face a crucial stretch
The decision to rest Doncic also comes because of the challenging schedule ahead for JJ Redick’s team .
After facing the Clippers, the Lakers will take on the Golden State Warriors on October 30 and then face another back-to-back set against the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat on November 1 and 2 .
With five games in seven days, Los Angeles chose not to risk its franchise player and instead prioritize a full recovery before an important stretch of the season.
