The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Phoenix Suns tonight, but are missing several key players. The most important amongst them is the head of the offense, superstar guard Luka Doncic, who is currently dealing with an injury. Now, head coach JJ Redick has issued a new update on his status.

According to Lakers insider Dave McMenamin, Redick told reporters that Doncic is “doing fine,” but will remain day-to-day with a left calf contusion. This is a significant setback for a team already missing two key starters in Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, leaving LeBron James and Deandre Ayton overburdened and the team at large vulnerable.

Doncic suffered the injury against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, when he collided with a Clippers player and was seen limping. Redick explained that “it’s happened a bunch this season,” and tonight will be the fourth missed game with a contusion in the same leg for Doncic.

However, for those hopeful for Doncic’s return, we might not have to wait as long as his past injuries.

McMenamin earlier reported on ESPN that since this injury is more of a bruise, the team is working on padding that he can wear on the knee, but more importantly, “there’s still a very real possibility that he feels good enough to go Thursday against the Rockets.”

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This puts his return for the Lakers‘ Christmas Day games in flux, and it would definitely benefit the team, which lost the matchup against the Clippers with James trying his best to carry the team.

Now, with only James and Ayton as the only regular starters, only time will tell if they can take down the Suns tonight.

Deandre Ayton Explains the Wear-and-Tear Behind Luka Doncic’s Latest Setback

After the Lakers’ game against the Clippers, center Deandre Ayton offered an insight about what Luka Doncic is dealing with. According to him, it’s not just one moment, but the result of cumulative stress.

“It’s almost like in spurts,” Ayton explained. “You feel very tired, and your ligaments and muscles are just really worn out.”

For a player like Doncic, this fatigue isn’t accidental, but built into the way defenses attack him every night. Ayton directly pointed to the punishment the guard faces as the focal point of opposing scouting reports, and regularly faces two defenders as blitzes try to force the ball out of his hands.

The physical contact is meant to disrupt his rhythm, not just make shots harder, and over time, that combination adds up, even for one of the most dominant guards in the league.

This also reframes concern for the Lakers, as it indicates that Doncic’s injury isn’t just a knock or bad landing, but a byproduct of carrying the offense, especially on nights without secondary ball-handler Austin Reaves.

Ayton’s insights suggest that the real question isn’t if he can play through it or not, but if any superstar can withstand that level of physical attention.