Luka Doncic looked sharp despite the Los Angeles Lakers losing their season opener to the Golden State Warriors, but he came away with an injury problem.
Doncic finished with 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 41 minutes as the Lakers lost 119-109 to the Warriors. However, it later emerged that he suffered a groin injury which requires further assessment.
“It’s probably nothing,” Doncic said after a lengthy postgame treatment. “I just felt it a little because my hip went [the opposite] path. I felt it a little, but it’s probably nothing.
Difficult break for Doncic, reduced
Any significant setback for the Slovenian would be devastating after he spent the offseason working on a rigorous fitness program in Croatia.
It would also represent a blow to the Lakers, who were second to the Warriors despite having home-court advantage.
The game got away from them in a third quarter in which they were outscored 35-25, continuing a theme.
“The trend I see is we continue to be a terrible team in the third quarter,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “That was last year. It was preseason. You have to rethink some things and it’s, you know, a two-way thing with guys. What do they need at halftime to make sure they’re ready to play? They’re not ready to play to start the third quarter.”
Gren greets the brilliant butler
Jimmy Butler starred for the Warriors with 31 points, earning praise from Draymond Green.
“He’s been a great leader since the day he arrived,” Green said. “He encourages his teammates, tells the guys what he sees and makes corrections. He constantly reminds us not to sulk or lower our shoulders.”
