Barring another injury, Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic will finally be able to play at full strength without a minutes restriction going forward for the second half of the NBA season.
Luka Doncic Is Set To Play In His Third Game Back
Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters Tuesday that Doncic probably won’t have a minutes restriction this week after the seven-year veteran made his debut with the Lakers before the All-Star break.
Doncic, who turns 26 on Feb. 28, will play in his third game back on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, following a 6 1/2-week absence due to a strained left calf suffered on Christmas while playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
Lakers coach JJ Redick on Luka Doncic: “He’ll be fine. That extra five-six days of All-Star break was good for him. His minutes will be up tomorrow. And I don’t think that there’s going to be any sort of restrictions going forward.”
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 19, 2025
“He’ll be fine,” Redick told reporters Tuesday night after the Lakers’ first practice back following the break. “That extra five-six days of All-Star break was good for him. His minutes will be up [Wednesday]. And I don’t think that there’s going to be any sort of restrictions going forward.”
The former first-rounder played in both of the Lakers’ final two games before the All-Star break, but he logged only 47 total minutes while the Lakers eased him back into competition.
Lakers Aim To Keep Seven-Game Home Win Streak Alive
The Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Mavs on Feb. 2 in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. They also rescinded the Mark Williams trade with the Hornets because the 7-footer had failed his physical.
LeBron James is listed as questionable to face Charlotte after he missed the final game before the All-Star break and then sat out Sunday’s event, ending his 20-year run of All-Star participation. The 40-year-old is dealing with a sore left foot and ankle.
Home court tonight.
🕕: 7:00 PM PT
📺: @SpectrumSN
💻: Spectrum SportsNet+
📻: ESPN LA 710/1330 KWKWPresented by @PechangaCasino pic.twitter.com/2XwDnFy0l9
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 19, 2025
The Lakers and Hornets are returning from the break earlier than all the other NBA teams because they are playing a game that was rescheduled last month due to the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Los Angeles returns from the break with three games in three cities over four days, playing in Portland on Thursday and Denver on Saturday. The Lakers have won six of their last seven games.
