Why isn’t Luka Doncic playing for the Lakers against the Suns?
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without the superstar point guard for Tuesday’s trip to the Phoenix Suns.
With just four games remaining in 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers will hope that a run of injury misfortune will change in the new year.
The Lakers will take on the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night but will be without at least one of their big stars for the game. The team has listed Luka Doncic as ‘out’ for the Suns game, giving the Slovenia time to recover from a calf contusion in his left leg.
“It’s happened a bunch this season,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said earlier this week, admitting that the team is looking at how to offer greater protection to Doncic.
Is Austin Reaves playing for the Lakers?
With Doncic out, the rest of the Lakers players will be required to shoulder some of the creative burden usually carried by the Slovenian. Typically, that would mean greater focus on Austin Reaves but he is also struggling with a left calf injury.
Austin Reaves was a partial participant in practice today, JJ Redick said. He remains day-to-day as the Lakers travel to Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/XDeouqxcVg
— Thuc Nhi Nguyen (@thucnhi21) December 22, 2025
On the Lakers’ injury report Reaves is listed as ‘questionable’ but is still in contention to play. Redick described Reaves as “day to day” with the recovery as he looks to return from a three-game spell on the sidelines.
Los Angeles will be boosted by the return of Deandre Ayton, who has recovered from left elbow soreness and is ready to play.
The Lakers also have a refreshed LeBron James to call upon and the veteran superstar has looked more like his imperious self in recent outings. James put up 36 points in last weekend’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, three times more than any other Lakers player.
“Regardless of the circumstances, it’s always the next man in the rotation who has to step up,” James said after the game. “We’re all professionals and we have to be ready.
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