The Los Angeles Lakers fell short of securing their ninth consecutive win on Saturday night, as the Boston Celtics held off a late rally to secure the victory. Despite trailing by 20 points in the third quarter, the Lakers stormed back in the fourth but couldn't complete the comeback.
Luka Doncic led the charge for LA, finishing with 34 points, eight rebounds, and three assists against a tough Celtics defense. However, the Lakers took a major blow when LeBron James exited with a groin injury at the 6:03 mark of the fourth quarter.
On Sunday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that James is expected to miss up to two weeks, meaning Doncic will now have to carry an even heavier offensive burden in his absence.
While the five-time All-Star has proven time and again that he's more than capable of carrying a team, there's another concern-his own lingering back injury.
Following the loss, Doncic admitted that his recent play has been affected by the minor setback. However, he quickly downplayed any worries about the issue.
"I'm fine," Doncic added.
Luka Doncic said he has been feeling back soreness since he took that tough fall against the Knicks on Thursday, but added: "I'm fine."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 9, 2025
Doncic appeared to have suffered the injury during the Lakers' win over the Knicks on Thursday. With the Lakers surging in the second half of the season, they cannot afford to lose their superstar, making it crucial for Austin Reaves and the supporting cast to ease the pressure off the Slovenian guard.
The Lakers are now entering one of their toughest stretches of the season, playing six games in eight nights, including two matchups each against the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets. They'll look to bounce back from the Celtics loss when they face the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.
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This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 12:48 PM.