By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After practicing without limitations on Thursday, Luka Doncic has been medically cleared to return for the Los Angeles Lakers in their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers at crypto.com Arena on Friday.
“I’m good. Feeling good,” the Slovenian superstar confirmed during a media session following team practice. Doncic has been sidelined with a mild left hamstring strain suffered in early February, causing him to miss the Lakers‘ final four games leading into the All-Star break. Although he sat out those official contests, he made a brief appearance in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, logging five minutes for Team World at the Intuit Dome.
Maintaining player availability has been a persistent challenge for head coach JJ Redick, who recently signed a contract extension through 2030. However, the team enters the final stretch of the Regular Season with a completely clean injury report. In addition to Doncic’s return, Redick announced that Austin Reaves will no longer be under a minutes restriction following his recovery from a calf injury.
“We’ve got to play good, got to score some buckets, play defense, and win games,” Doncic noted regarding the team’s requirements for the remainder of the season. The Lakers currently hold a 33–21 record, placing them 5th in the Western Conference. They now begin a crucial three-game homestand starting with the Clippers, before hosting the Boston Celtics on Sunday and the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
Before his injury, the 26-year-old Ljubljana native was the league’s leading scorer, averaging 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game across 42 appearances.
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