LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena on January 02, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

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Justin Grasso

By Justin Grasso

Contributing Sports Writer

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Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-112 loss against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, Luka Doncic made it clear that he’s dealing with a setback.

Speaking with reporters after the game, the superstar guard revealed that he has been receiving treatment in his inner thigh/groin area. That was the case throughout the game. Heading into the matchup, Doncic admitted he wasn’t sure if he was going to play on Monday.

Naturally, that placed his Tuesday night availability against the Atlanta Hawks in question. On the injury report, the Lakers revealed his status heading into the game, listing him as questionable for the matchup due to left groin soreness.

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Fortunately, the Lakers aren't going to miss their star scorer against the Hawks on Tuesday. After going through his pregame warmups, Doncic was deemed healthy enough to play, leading the Lakers to clear him once again.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before their game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on January 12, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Throughout his first full season with the Lakers, Doncic hasn’t found himself battling any long-term issues. While he missed three games in October and a handful of outings in December, mostly due to personal reasons, the star scorer has had consistency with his availability.

The last time Doncic missed a game for the Lakers was on December 23 against the Phoenix Suns. Since then, he’s been a part of nine-straight games. During that stretch, Doncic has averaged 48 percent from the field, producing 32.6 points per game, along with 8.7 assists.

So far, the Lakers have enjoyed Doncic’s scoring. He’s averaging a league-leading 33.6 points in 30 outings. However, the star guard has been under fire for his struggles on the defensive end of the floor. As a team, the Lakers have had a hard time on defense, and it begins with Luka.

Despite the concerns, the Lakers still remain a top-five team in the Western Conference in mid-January. With a 23-14 record, the Lakers are just in front of the surging Phoenix Suns. They'll look to improve their standing with a 10:30 PM ET tip against Atlanta.

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