The Los Angeles Lakers may not have either of their superstars available for their next game.
LeBron suffered a left groin strain during Saturday’s 111-101 loss to the Boston Celtics. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 40-year-old superstar is expected to miss at least one to two weeks.
Los Angeles may need Luka Doncic to carry his new team in LeBron’s absence. However, the 26-year-old isn’t 100 percent either.
The Lakers’ injury report on Sunday confirmed that James will miss Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle), Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), and Maxi Kleber (right foot) are also out.
Meanwhile, the Lakers listed Doncic as questionable due to back soreness.
Doncic missed over a month with a left calf injury sustained on Christmas Day before making his Lakers debut a week after the stunning trade. He’s since played 11 of the last 12 games, sitting out the second of back-to-back games on Feb. 20.
Since joining his new team, Doncic has averaged 24.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists. After initially struggled to find his shot, the five-time All-Star has scored at least 30 points in three straight games.
Following Saturday’s game, Doncic told reporters he’s been dealing with back issues since taking a hard fall during the team’s recent homestand. However, he insisted he’s “fine.”
Doncic also addressed LeBron’s groin injury when asked if he’s concerned about his star teammate.
“Hopefully it’s nothing,” Doncic said. “Obviously, he’s gotta take his time. Those injuries … I won’t say the worst, but they’re tough to deal with. So just take time. And as a team, we gotta have the next-man up mentality.”
The Lakers have Sunday off and two more days to recover after playing the Nets in Brooklyn. However, they’ll then play six games in an eight-game window, starting with back-to-back road games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets on Thursday and Friday.
That schedule could compel Los Angeles to proceed cautiously and give Doncic a rest day or two. At 40-22, the Lakers are tied with Denver for the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed but have only a two-game cushion over the No. 5-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.
Related: ESPN Announces The Injury Diagnosis For LeBron James