Luka Dončić spearheaded the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense for the first two games of the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Lakers went 1-1 to start the season, but it could be the Lakers’ momentum on offense that’s coming to a screeching halt.
Dončić suffered multiple injuries in the team’s rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
The Slovenian was listed as questionable with a left finger sprain on Saturday evening for the game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, Oct. 26.
He was officially ruled out on Sunday with a finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion and will miss at least a week.
The star guard is expected to be reevaluated next week. That leaves the Lakers without their two best scorers in Dončić and LeBron James and in search of where the offensive production will come from. When James’ injury was announced on Oct. 9, the four-time MVP was expected to be reevaluated in three to four weeks.
‘We have to do everything with pace tonight,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters before Sunday’s game against the Kings.
He has only scored a game over 40+ points once in his career, scoring 45 in a game against the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 8, when James and Dončić were not available to play.
More could be asked of new center Deandre Ayton, who has a career high of 35 points, but who only scored 10 points in the season opener against the Golden State Warriors and 15 against Minnesota.
The Lakers had just four players come off the bench against Golden State before seeing six bench players play in the 128-110 win over the Timberwolves. The question for the Lakers now is where the scoring production will come from on the second unit. Jake LaRavia had the most off the bench against Minnesota with six points. He also had five against the Warriors.
Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt provided a strong defensive mentality when they came in, but now will likely need to step it up on the offensive end. Smart has 12 total points through the first two games. Vanderbilt has just two.
Jaxson Hayes will be unavailable for a second straight game due to left knee soreness.
How to watch Lakers vs. Kings
The Kings will host the Lakers on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) at the Golden 1 Center. The game will be available on NBA League Pass and locally on NBC Sports California and Spectrum Sports Network.
