Lakers to Play Without Key Stars Doncic and Reaves Against Trail Blazers
LOS ANGELES, CA – the Los Angeles Lakers will be without two of their leading players, luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, when thay face the Portland Trail Blazers tonight. Doncic will miss his fourth game of the season, while Reaves is sidelined for the first time this year.
This news comes as a significant blow to the Lakers,who have relied heavily on both players’ contributions during the 2025-26 season. Reaves, in particular, has emerged as a star, averaging 31.1 points, 9.3 assists,5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through seven games while shooting 48.9 percent from the field. Doncic, now in his first full season with the Lakers, has been a key component of their success after being acquired mid-season last year.
Doncic’s previous season with the Dallas Mavericks was hampered by a severe left calf contusion, causing him to miss 22 games. He joined the Lakers while still recovering, ultimately playing 28 games for the team and helping propel them to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, despite visibly not being at full strength.
Reaves’ remarkable performance this season has positioned him for a potentially massive contract extension,with projections exceeding $35 million annually. Continued strong play is expected to further increase his market value. The Lakers will need to rely on other players to step up in the absence of these two stars as they navigate a challenging Western Conference schedule.
