A depleted Los Angeles Lakers team was swept by the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Jan. 17. It was an uphill battle from the start as LA was without Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, Austin Reaves and Adou Thiero. The Lakers also hit Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia in the game, dropping their stats in the second half of a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Jan. 18 with hesitation – at least at first.
Adding to the laundry list of question marks, LeBron James is expected to be a game-time decision, as will be the case with every back-to-back going forward.
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The Lakers got some much-needed relief on Sunday, and Ayton and Hayes are expected to return to the court. It also appears that they dodged a bullet as neither Smart nor LaRavia are listed in the injury report.
That leaves two big questions that likely won’t be answered directly until we get closer to the draft: Will Dončić and James face the court against the Raptors?
Here’s everything you need to know about the status of the two Lakers stars:
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
Gold medalist LeBron James of Team United States celebrates on the podium during the men’s basketball medal ceremony on day 15 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on Aug. 10, 2024 in Paris, France.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
Gold medalist LeBron James of Team United States celebrates on the podium during the men’s basketball medal ceremony on day 15 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on Aug. 10, 2024 in Paris, France.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James reacts while holding the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Finals on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. Powered by an incredible effort from LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers completed the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, dethroning defending champion Golden State 93-89 to capture their first NBA title. The Cavaliers won the best-of-seven series 4-3 to claim the league’s first crown in its 46-season history and bring the first major sports champion to Cleveland since the 1964 NFL Browns, ending the longest drought of any American city. / AFP / Beck Diefenbach (Photo credit should read BECK DIEFENBACH/AFP via Getty Images)
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
Forward LeBron James faces the New York Knicks in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Miami defeated the Knicks 106-94 to advance to the next round four games to one.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 21: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Finals Championship trophy after a 121-106 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this image, User agrees to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James speaks to the media on the day off following Game Three of the 2014 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena on June 11, 2014 in Miami, Florida.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers beat the Lakers 118-104.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James cries before the Men’s Preliminary Round Group B match, Spain vs China at the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 29, 2012 in London.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James is injured against the Charlotte Bobcats in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 28, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James disputes a bad call with referee John Goble #10 in the second half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 25, 2025 in Los Angeles.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James reacts as the Lakers play the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at the American Airlines Center on Dec. 25, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James watches before playing against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James gestures to his teammates after shooting a three-pointer late in the 3rd quarter against the Chicago Bulls in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 25, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cavaliers beat the Bulls 121-98.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James reacts during the Lakers’ 117-108 win over the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 15, 2025 in Los Angeles.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James screams during their game against CSKA Moscow on October 12, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The Miami Heat won 96-85 over CSKA Moscow.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends the 2018 NBA Summer League quarterfinals game between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James tackles the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on March 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James sits during a practice session leading up to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ exhibition game against the Orlando Magic in Shanghai in October 2007.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 19, 2025 in Inglewood, California.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 28, 2025 in Los Angeles.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James falls to the court after fouling out in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 19, 2025 in Los Angeles.
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The many faces of basketball legend LeBron James
LeBron James reacts during warmups before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of the Western Conference First Round First NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 19, 2025 in Los Angeles.
CLIPPERS: Kawhi Leonard is out at least two more games with a knee problem
Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs. Raptors?
Dončić is doubtful to play with a sore left groin, according to the latest NBA injury report released at 5:30 pm ET. At first he told reporters on Jan. 12 that he “felt something” in his groin/inner thigh area during pregame warmups, but ended up playing in both of the Lakers’ back-to-back games earlier last week.
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Dončić also played in Thursday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 39 points before sitting out Saturday.
Is LeBron James playing tonight?
James is back on the questionable list for Sunday night’s games, which is expected after the 41-year-old said as much to reporters last week.
James played in the Lakers’ most recent back-to-back games on January 12 and 13, logging 33 minutes each and tallying one triple-double for 31 points in a 141-116 win over the Hawks.
In Saturday night’s loss to the Trail Blazers, James scored 20 points and led the team in assists and rebounds with nine and eight, respectively.
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Lakers injuries
Ayton and Hayes both did not play Saturday, leaving the door open for Drew Timme to see extended minutes at center. Smart left the court following a collision midway through the fourth quarter, but was not listed on Sunday’s injury report. Both Ayton and Hayes are expected to return against Toronto.
The only other names on the Lakers injury report before the game are Reaves (left calf strain) and Thiero (right MCL sprain), both of whom have missed extended periods and are expected to be re-evaluated later in the month.
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James, Luka Doncic injury update for Lakers vs Raptors tonight
