As the Los Angeles Lakers seek to overcome their recent two-way struggles, they will be forced to do so without their top player, Luka Dončić. The superstar guard was unexpectedly ruled out a day early for Saturday’s road clash against the Portland Trail Blazers, fueling concern among LA’s fan base.
Lakers Receive Troubling Luka Dončić Injury Update Amid Midseason Drop-Off
LA’s defense and 3-point shooting woes have become a major talking point in recent weeks, as the team dropped eight of its last 13 games entering Saturday. Still, Dončić has remained a consistent source of offense when available, coming off a game-high 39-point performance during Thursday’s 135-117 home letdown vs. the Charlotte Hornets.
However, on Friday, the Lakers announced that Dončić wouldn’t suit up against Portland due to left groin soreness.
Luka Dončić gets ruled out for his eighth game of the season amid Lakers’ concerning 5-8 stretch. https://t.co/DWLLEQS7jy
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) January 17, 2026
The setback comes less than a week after the five-time All-Star revealed that he “felt something” in his groin area while warming up before Monday’s 124-112 road loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Dončić hadn’t appeared noticeably affected since, averaging 36.0 points per game over his previous three outings to pad his league-leading 33.6 ppg scoring average. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old gets a night off as LA exercises caution against a middling Trail Blazers squad (20-22, ninth in the Western Conference) battling for play-in positioning.
After the Lakers provided little resistance against the LaMelo Ball-led Hornets’ outside shooting onslaught, Dončić urged his teammates to get back to “playing fast” and “playing with physicality.” He cited Tuesday’s 141-116 home win over the Atlanta Hawks as a “good example” of what they can achieve when firing on all cylinders.
Still, barring a trade, LA lacks the personnel to make a substantial improvement upon its 26th-ranked defensive rating (117.6). Moreover, Dončić joining his co-star Austin Reaves (calf) on the Lakers’ injury report should only exacerbate their outside shooting deficiencies (24th in 3-point percentage at 34.5%).
LA (24-15, sixth in the West) has gone 20-12 with Dončić and 4-3 without him entering Saturday.
The Lakers split their first two matchups against Portland, which has been hot as of late. The Trail Blazers have gone 8-3 over their last 11 contests, including victories against upper-echelon opponents such as the Houston Rockets (twice), San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics.
Through 32 appearances, Dončić is averaging 33.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 3.4 3-pointers per game. He has done so on relatively modest 46.8/33.4/78.3 shooting splits, suggesting he could reach another level upon his return.
