Luka Dončić tallies a 29-point triple-double vs. Miami on Sunday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Luka Doncic was ruled out of the Lakers’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night after finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Miami a night earlier.
Dončić is out for injury management on the second night of a back-to-back as he continues to recover from a left leg injury, which forced him to miss three games this season before he returned to the floor with 44 points on Friday and a 29-point triple-double on Sunday. They beat the Blazers, 123-115, behind a combined 57 points from starting big men Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton.
Doncic was averaging 41.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game this season, a historic start that includes 165 total points through four games — the most by any Lakers player and the most by any NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain’s 205 points in 1962-63.
The Lakers were also without guard Austin Reaves because of right groin soreness. Reaves had 26 points and 11 assists in the 130-120 victory over Miami. Coach JJ Redick said before Monday’s game that Reaves felt soreness in the first quarter of the game against the Heat but played through it.
Reaves has been dominant as well this season. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 31.1 points, 9.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds over seven games, including a career-high 51-point performance against Sacramento on Oct. 26.
The Lakers (6-2) have performed well this season without LeBron James, who remains sidelined due to sciatica.
Redick said Ayton (back spasms) was a game-time decision; he played 30 minutes, shooting 14-for-19 and pulling down 10 rebounds.
The Lakers remain without LeBron James (right sciatica), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) and Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery).
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
