Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on December 18, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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Tyler Erzberger

By Tyler Erzberger

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The Los Angeles Lakers fans, players, and staff all collectively held their breaths on Saturday when superstar Luka Doncic exited the game early due to a leg injury.

While the Lakers would go on to lose the “Battle for L.A.” clash against the flailing Los Angeles Clippers, the most important question exiting the game was the health of the league’s top scorer.

Although initially diagnosed as a left leg contusion after watching Doncic limp to the locker room, it wasn’t until Monday that the Lakers got their first major update on the Slovenian sharpshooter.

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JJ Reddick informed local media that Doncic is day-to-day with his leg contusion, which is one of the more positive outcomes for an injury that forced him to leave the Clippers game at halftime.

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Taylor Hendricks #0 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on December 18, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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Austin Reaves, the team’s second-top scorer this season, is also day-to-day after developing a calf strain over a week ago. Although Reaves has practiced, the team is being cautious, as calf strains have been shown to be precursors to Achilles injuries if not properly treated and given time to rest.

To make things worse for the Lakers, Rui Hachimura, another starter, is day-to-day with right groin soreness that kept him out of the Clippers' loss.

It appears as if it will be up to 40-year-old LeBron James to lead the Lakers on the road against Phoenix on Tuesday. James will turn 41 next week on Dec. 30, as he continues his historic 23rd season in the NBA.

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