The Los Angeles Lakers have thrived when Luka Doncic and LeBron James (groin) are both on the court. However, James’ recent absence has disrupted their rhythm. The Lakers (40-24) have struggled without him, dropping back-to-back games—first a 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets (22-44), followed by a 126-106 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks (37-28) on Thursday night. Doncic put up 45 points (14-27 FG, 7-13 3PT), 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in 36 minutes, but his performance wasn’t enough to keep up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
The five-time All-NBA First Team selection reflected on his impressive outing in the postgame press conference. “Nothing matters if we lose the game,” he said, as reported by Dan Woike of LA Times.
Doncic had to take on the bulk of the offensive load without James, as only Austin Reaves provided significant support. Reaves contributed 28 points (10-17 FG, 4-7 3PT), eight rebounds, and three assists in 36 minutes. Outside of them, no other Laker reached double figures except Dalton Knecht, who added 10 points.
While Doncic and Reaves performed well, it’s difficult to compete with playoff-caliber teams when only two players are consistently scoring. The positive takeaway is that James is considered day-to-day, though ESPN reports he will also miss Friday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets (42-24).
Ultimately, the Lakers need to be cautious with James’ recovery. Their loss to the Bucks serves as a reminder that their postseason success likely hinges on having him at full strength.
