LOS ANGELES — The sight was the last thing Los Angeles Lakers fans wanted to see.
Luka Dončić – late into his 43-point, 12-rebound, nine-assist masterclass in L.A.’s season opening loss against the Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 21 – grimaced in apparent discomfort and grabbed at the inside of his leg, near his groin.
After the game, Dončić downplayed the matter, saying he felt a tweak in his hip.
‘It’s probably nothing,’ Dončić told reporters after the game. ‘Just felt it a little bit because my hip went that way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.’
The ‘probably’ might still cause Lakers coaches and fans to pause, but Dončić did not appear to be overly concerned. Still, it will bear monitoring, especially this early in the season.
Los Angeles cannot afford to lose Dončić. The Lakers are without LeBron James (sciatica) for at least the next week, and Dončić showed Tuesday that the team will depend on his production.
He was an efficient 17 of 27 from the field, including 13 of 14 inside the paint. Each time the Lakers mounted runs to try to close the gap, it was Dončić’s scoring that led the charge. As the Warriors opened the third quarter on a devastating 23-9 run, it was Dončić who had scored all nine of L.A.’s points.
He played a game-high 41 minutes, which was four-and-a-half more than the next closest player, Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves.
‘Overall, 41 minutes,’ Dončić said. ‘I like that.’
Dončić was late to appear to his postgame news conference because he was receiving treatment. He did not sport any notable limp and the Lakers now have the benefit of a few days’ rest before their second game of the season.
Los Angeles will host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have made consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals, on Friday, Oct. 24.