Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic delivered a stellar performance on NBA Opening Night, racking up 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists in a high-energy clash against the Golden State Warriors.
Despite Doncic’s brilliance, the Lakers fell short, dropping a 119-109 decision at home to start their season. Adding to the disappointment, Doncic seemed to tweak his groin during the game, raising concerns about his health.
Late in the contest, Doncic was visibly uncomfortable, clutching his groin area multiple times. Postgame, when questioned about the issue, he downplayed its severity but left room for some uncertainty.
“It’s probably nothing,” Doncic said. “Just felt it a little bit because my hip went [the opposite] way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.”
While his “probably nothing” comment suggests optimism, it’s not a definitive all-clear, though Doncic didn’t seem overly worried. This potential injury is worth keeping an eye on as the Lakers navigate the early season without LeBron James, who is expected to miss several weeks due to a right-side sciatica issue.
With James out, Doncic is shouldering a massive responsibility, as evidenced by his Opening Night effort. He was responsible for over half of Los Angeles’ points, including his assists, and logged a game-high 40 minutes.
The Slovenian phenom was highly efficient, hitting 17 of 27 field goals, though his long-range shooting struggled, connecting on only 2 of 10 three-pointers.
Doncic and the Lakers get a brief breather before their next game on Friday, a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday to open their campaign.
The Friday matchup tips off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET and will stream on Amazon Prime.
