The Lakers just snapped an eight-game winning streak with four straight losses. Three of those losses came without LeBron James. They’ve won two games in a row, boosted by their new star backcourt, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Next, they face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. However, Doncic appears on the injury report.
Doncic is probable with a right ankle sprain. Ryan Ward from LakersNation.com confirms he’s likely to play the first game of the back-to-back set, according to CBS.
This month, Doncic averages 30.8 points, 9.5 assists, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in 37.7 minutes over seven games.
The latest status report for the Nuggets game lists these updates:
- Luka Doncic (right ankle sprain) is probable. He may play.
- Trey Jemison III (illness) is questionable. His participation hangs in doubt.
- Rui Hachimura (left knee issue), LeBron James (left groin strain), and Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery recovery) are out. They won’t play.
Lakers’ injury report vs. Denver tomorrow:
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 19, 2025
— Trey Jemison III upgraded to questionable.
— Luka Doncic is probable. pic.twitter.com/LCyU97bhat
Injuries hit hard, especially without James and Hachimura. This could shake their game against the Nuggets. Still, the Lakers stand at 2-4 in their last six games. With only 15 games left, each result shapes their playoff chances.
Magic Johnson sees Luka Doncic as Lakers’ future after LeBron’s exit
Lakers legend Magic Johnson believes Luka Doncic’s arrival will be even more crucial for the team’s future, especially after LeBron James retires.
Since joining the Lakers from the Mavericks, Doncic has quickly become an essential part of the roster. But Johnson sees an even bigger role ahead. Speaking on Byron Scott’s Fast Break, he said:
“I thought it was good in terms of you have somebody later, right, as a star after LeBron retires,” Johnson said (35:26).
Johnson compared it to past transitions. After he retired in 1991, it took years for Kobe Bryant to emerge as the franchise’s cornerstone. The same happened between Bryant’s retirement and LeBron’s arrival. Now, with Doncic, the Lakers are better prepared for the next shift.
On the court, Magic believes Doncic and LeBron have elevated the team’s offense.
“Offensively, it’s a good team, right? It’s a team you have to say, ‘Okay, man, we got two guys we got to try to control and stop,’” he said. “But both of those two guys are great passers, so they make the other players better.”
The Nuggets (44-25) enter Wednesday’s matchup against the Lakers (42-25) with six players on the injury report, including Nikola Jokić.
The Lakers have five players listed ahead of the 10 p.m. ET tip-off at Crypto.com Arena.
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I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
