Lakers Injury Report: Luka Doncic in Danger of Missing Game vs Bulls

As the Los Angeles Lakers' very busy 2024-25 regular season winds to a close, the team finds itself locked into a tense race for playoff positioning.

Just 5.5 games separate the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets (46-25) from the No. 8-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (41-31) in a loaded Western Conference. No one is catching the 58-12 Oklahoma City Thunder, who already clinched the top seed earlier this week.

Lakers’ injury report vs. Chicago tomorrow:
— LeBron James and Rui Hachimura are upgraded to questionable.
— Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt are probable.
— Gabe Vincent downgraded to questionable. pic.twitter.com/WjFo6ulobE
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 22, 2025

At 43-26, the Lakers are currently the No. 3 seed (two games behind Houston, and 3.5 games ahead of Minnesota), but could easily fall into play-in territory if LeBron James' left groin strain keeps him out and much longer and they're not careful during this home stretch. There are just 13 games remaining on L.A.'s regular season slate.

More Lakers: NBA Insider Says Lakers Must Avoid West Rival 'At All Costs' in Postseason

Now, against a far inferior opponent, five-time All-NBA superstar guard Luka Doncic could find himself riding pine next to James and their fellow starter Rui Hachimura, in what would be an absolute nightmare scenario for a Lakers team that should be trying to maintain at least homecourt advantage heading into the playoffs. All three sat out L.A.'s scheduled loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, as did star guard Austin Reaves and defense-first forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Per the league's latest injury report, Doncic has seen his status upgraded to probable with a right ankle sprain. James and Hachimura are both questionable for Saturday's contest against the Chicago Bulls. Hachimura is dealing with a left patellar groin strain, which has kept him out since L.A.'s February 27 win over the Timberwolves.

The Bulls will be without point guard Lonzo Ball (left wrist sprain), guard Ayo Dosunmu (left shoulder surgery) and two-way players E.J. Liddell, Emanuel Miller and Jahmir Young.

Missing either Doncic or James would be a huge blow to L.A.'s chances. Although the 30-40 Bulls aren't exactly looking like world beaters, they are a frisky young team that shoots oodles of triples and can hang with good clubs on occasion.

Per The Ringer's Bill Simmons, the addition of Doncic has excited L.A. fans unseen since 18-time All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant retired in 2016.

"The buzz in the arena ... the only other time I felt it at a Laker game like that was when Kobe was playing."@BillSimmons shares his thoughts after seeing Luka Doncic with the Lakers for the first time in person. pic.twitter.com/WPR6pZoXzl
— The Ringer (@ringer) March 21, 2025

This year, Doncic is averaging 27.4 points on .440/.349/.769 shooting splits across his 38 healthy games for the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. He's also notching 8.5 boards and 7.9 assists, and is L.A.'s brightest star.

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