The Los Angeles Lakers entered this season with high hopes, it being their first full season since the arrival of Luka Dončić in February. Although they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round last season, the Lakers are still regarded as one of the strongest teams this year.
They added Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to help solve some of their defensive problems, and the team showed in their season opener against the Golden State Warriors that work still needed to be done.
After the loss, the Lakers managed to bounce back against the Timberwolves in the second game, thanks to the Slovenian star. Dončić dominated with another double-double, scoring 49 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He shot 60.9% from the field (14-of-23) and 41.7% from beyond the arc (5-of-12).
With an exceptional performance, Dončić made history by becoming the first player to open the season with consecutive 40-point games. Now up next for the Lakers is the Sacramento Kings.
Will Luka Dončić Play For the Lakers Against the Kings?
Lakers head coach JJ Redick initially said the guard suffered a groin injury. But now the Lakers have released an official injury report, which doesn’t look like good news for fans.
According to the Lakers’ latest injury report, Dončić is dealing with a left finger sprain.
The Lakers say Luka Dončić is questionable to play Sunday in Sacramento due to a left finger sprain. pic.twitter.com/pVjLgjJpZh
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 25, 2025
Doncic has mostly stayed healthy throughout his NBA career, but the last two seasons have been his roughest, suiting up for only 50 games each year.
Jaxson Hayes is also questionable, like Dončić, due to left knee soreness, while LeBron James (right sciatica), Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain), and Adou Thierro (left knee surgery recovery) are all out for the upcoming game.
The combination of James and Dončić worked well last season, and the world was eager to see how it would work this year. They also had the summer to train together to figure out how to bring home the Lakers’ 18th title, but fans won’t see them together on the court for some time.
While Dončić’s injury isn’t as serious as James’, the Lakers may play it safe and keep him on the sidelines for the Kings game. The season is long, and a precautionary measure could be in the cards to ensure that Dončić remains in good shape when James does return.
