In Los Angeles, the Lakers are facing significant challenges as they prepare to play the Milwaukee Bucks. Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be absent due to sprained right ankles. This matchup marks the Lakers’ sixth game within an exhausting eight-day period.
Prior to taking on the Bucks, the Lakers officially announced that Doncic and Reaves would be joining the already sidelined LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. Additionally, key rotation players like Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt have been ruled out for the game. Consequently, Los Angeles will be without its top four scorers and five of its top six when hosting Milwaukee.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed an optimistic attitude despite the roster challenges. “The substitution matrix will be a lot of fun, but we feel like we have enough guys that can move and make shots and defend that we have a chance to win,” said Redick during a pregame press conference.
Meanwhile, the Bucks face their own injury woes, with guard Damian Lillard absent due to a calf injury. Coach Doc Rivers admitted, “I don’t know if we’re going to be the more healthier team tonight, to be honest, but (the Lakers) not having Luka and LeBron, we’re probably the more healthier team.”
Los Angeles is in a grueling phase of the season, with 20 games slated over five weeks. Despite these challenges, the Lakers have enjoyed some recent success, securing three consecutive home wins over the past four days and stretching their home victory streak to nine games since February 19.
Doncic, who notched 31 points in a win against Denver, has been dealing with an ongoing ankle issue, which also caused him to miss last Friday’s game against the same team. Reaves, another key player, has managed to persevere through his own ankle concerns since March 4.
LeBron James will remain on the sidelines for the seventh consecutive game due to a groin injury, while Hachimura continues to recover from a knee injury sustained in late February. Coach Redick remains “hopeful” for the return of either James or Hachimura in the upcoming match against Chicago.
This already packed schedule for the Lakers was further complicated by a rescheduled game against San Antonio, originally postponed due to January wildfires in Southern California. Consequently, the Lakers face five home games in just seven days this week before embarking on a road trip to Orlando.
Reflecting on this challenging stretch, Redick acknowledged, “I think everybody is day to day, including LeBron and Rui, but we knew post-All-Star break that this first three, four weeks was gonna be tough. It’s not going to get any easier, but this has been a very difficult stretch just in terms of the schedule.”
