BOSTON — Lakers star Luka Doncic was once again away from the team on Friday night because of personal reasons, but Coach JJ Redick didn’t rule out the possibility of Doncic rejoining the team for the end of the trip.
Redick said ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics that Doncic would be back “soon” and that it was a possibility the 26-year-old star could be available for Sunday’s trip-ending matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After Sunday’s game, the Lakers won’t play again until Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the San Antonio Spurs.
Doncic is averaging a league-best 35.3 points per game to go with 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists in the 16 games he has played this season.
Fellow star forward LeBron James also wasn’t available against the Celtics, which was the second night of a back-to-back set, after Thursday’s road win over the Toronto Raptors.
The Lakers ruled the 40-year-old James out because of right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis. He was sidelined for the first 14 games of the season because of the sciatica.
James has averaged 14 points (41.3% shooting), 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the six games he has played (32.8 minutes) since his delayed start to the season.
“I’m still getting in a rhythm,” James said. “This is my what, sixth? Sixth game. It is obviously well-documented; I’ve never missed a whole training camp and a whole preseason before. Or missed the first 14 games of a regular season. So I’m still figuring out my rhythm, figuring out everything as far as offensively. Knowing I can still make an impact on the floor when I’m out there.”
His record-setting double-digit regular-season scoring streak of 1,297 games ended against the Raptors, when he finished with eight points on 4-of-17 shooting but recorded 11 assists, including setting up Rui Hachimura for the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
“In some ways, I’m really glad this streak is over,” Redick said. “So now we can stop talking about it.”
Veteran guard Marcus Smart also wasn’t available against the Celtics, sitting out his fifth consecutive game because of lower back injury management. Smart’s status is considered day-to-day.
ROOKIE’S PLAY
Rookie forward Adou Thiero was in the team’s first-half rotation against the Raptors, showcasing the quick-twitch athleticism that played a factor in the Lakers moving up twice to select him with the No. 36 pick in June’s NBA draft.
Thiero finished with four points, one rebound, one assist and one steal in a then-season-high 20 minutes in Toronto.
Redick called Thiero’s minutes on Thursday “good,” adding that Thiero was going to be the first sub against the Celtics, which came to fruition when Thiero and two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. were the Lakers’ first players off the bench midway through the first quarter.
With Doncic, James and Smart unavailable, the Lakers once again used a 10-man rotation against the Celtics.
Reserve big man Jaxson Hayes, second-year wing Dalton Knecht and veteran big man Maxi Kleber were also in the rotation.