Lakers Overcome Doncic Injury To Edge 76ers In Thriller

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Thursday night clash with the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena was always going to be a must-watch matchup. Two of the NBA’s premier guards—Luka Doncic, the league’s leading scorer, and Tyrese Maxey, sitting fifth in points per game—were set to headline the contest. But as the night unfolded, the story shifted from star-studded offensive fireworks to grit, resilience, and a heavy dose of uncertainty for the Lakers faithful.

It was a game loaded with playoff implications, as the Lakers entered the night holding a precarious sixth place in the Western Conference, just one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns. The 76ers, riding a five-game winning streak, arrived in Los Angeles with momentum and a 29-21 record, eager to make a statement in enemy territory. The Lakers, meanwhile, had just wrapped up a grueling 16-day, eight-game road trip and were looking to get their legs back under them on home court.

From the opening tip, both teams traded blows. Tyrese Maxey, who’s been a revelation for Philadelphia all season, looked poised to eclipse his points prop of 26.5, attacking the rim with confidence. The Lakers countered with LeBron James orchestrating the offense and Luka Doncic—averaging a league-best 33.4 points and 8.7 assists per game—probing for weaknesses in the Sixers’ defense. But midway through the second quarter, the entire tone of the game changed.

With just under four minutes left in the half, Doncic drove into the paint, executed a signature stepback, and immediately reached for the back of his left leg. He grimaced, tried to play through the discomfort, but was clearly hobbled. After a turnover and a couple of trips up and down the court, Lakers head coach JJ Redick called a timeout. Doncic, bent over in pain, gingerly walked to the bench and then to the locker room. The Lakers later announced he would not return due to left leg soreness, with Redick clarifying, “He felt some soreness in his hamstring so he didn’t feel like it was good enough to go back in [and] neither did [our medical team.] So, we held him out and they [are] going to do some imaging. It’s too early to say if there’s an injury, but [he] just had a sore hamstring.”

Doncic’s abrupt exit left the Lakers without their All-Star engine. He finished with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, and five turnovers—a far cry from his usual output. The severity of the injury was set to be determined by imaging scheduled for Friday. For a player who’d only missed three games all season (due to a finger sprain and leg contusion), the timing couldn’t have been worse. The Lakers were already walking a tightrope in the standings, and the potential loss of Doncic loomed large.

But the Lakers weren’t about to fold. Instead, they rallied behind Austin Reaves, who was only in his second game back after missing 19 straight with a left calf strain. Reaves delivered a performance to remember, pouring in a career-high 35 points off the bench—including a blistering 13 in the fourth quarter alone. His back-to-back three-pointers and clutch free throws early in the final frame gave the Lakers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. “It’s always the first like four minutes of the game when you haven’t been playing too much [that] you get tired fast,” Reaves said postgame. “And then after that, your second-wind kicks in, the adrenaline kicks in [during a] game like tonight and then you just focus on trying to win the game.”

LeBron James, as steady as ever, chipped in 17 points and 10 assists, guiding the Lakers through choppy waters. Rui Hachimura, stepping up in Doncic’s absence, scored 14 off the bench, including the game-sealing basket with just 12.3 seconds left. The Lakers’ defense, anchored by Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt, proved critical in holding off a late Sixers surge. “We’re just going to keep him on a 25-minutes limit if he’s going to score 35,” Redick joked about Reaves’ explosive night. “He was unbelievable tonight. His drives — I know he made threes tonight and hit a couple that were pretty incredible — but his drives and his thrust. ... He got to the free-throw line. He got in the paint and made plays and scored at the rim. It was great to see.”

Philadelphia, for their part, fought valiantly. Maxey continued his offensive tear, and the Sixers kept within striking distance all night. The projected score for this clash had been razor-thin—Lakers 117, Sixers 116—with oddsmakers favoring the Lakers by just 2.5 points. The over/under was set at 234.5, but both teams’ defenses tightened up late, keeping the total just under projections.

Beyond the on-court fireworks, the Lakers’ front office made a notable move during the game, acquiring sharpshooter Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick. Kennard, a career 44.2% three-point shooter and currently leading the NBA at 49.7% from deep, is expected to provide much-needed spacing for James, Doncic, and Reaves. With $60 million in projected cap space this offseason, the Lakers are signaling they’re all-in for another deep playoff run.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Lakers emerged victorious, 119-115, snapping the 76ers’ win streak and improving to 31-19. But the mood in the locker room was far from celebratory. All eyes were on Doncic’s status. “I talked to him a little bit at halftime,” Reaves shared. “I walked by him and asked him if he was OK. He kind of just looked at me and I had to go play. So, hopefully nothing major. We need him. He’s our best player and the engine of a lot of the stuff that we do. Yeah, so, hopefully we get good news tomorrow and I wish him nothing but the best.”

Looking ahead, the Lakers have little time to rest, with a marquee matchup against the Golden State Warriors looming on Saturday. The Sixers, meanwhile, will regroup and look to get back on track after a narrow road defeat. For now, the city of Los Angeles holds its breath, waiting for updates on Doncic’s hamstring and hoping this resilient Lakers squad can weather yet another storm in a season full of twists and turns.