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By Justin Grasso
Contributing Sports Writer
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Luka Doncic did not return to the court for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
As the Lakers paid a visit to the Los Angeles Clippers, Doncic reportedly suffered a left leg contusion during the first half of the matchup.
Doncic played in 20 minutes. He shot 4-13 from the field, making just one of his six attempts from beyond the arc. Along with his scoring, Doncic came down with five rebounds and produced two assists. He turned the ball over four times.
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When the Lakers took the floor in the third quarter, the team started the second-year guard, Dalton Knecht, in Doncic’s spot for the remainder of the game.
Although Doncic’s absence in the second half of Saturday’s game is concerning, the severity of the setback is unclear. The team’s head coach, JJ Redick, will have to address it with an update following Saturday’s game.
For the time being, the Lakers are looking to climb back against the Clippers. Entering the night, both teams have been in very different positions.
The Clippers have been struggling, posting a 6-21 record through the first few months of action. They have shocked the NBA with how much they’ve struggled so far this year.
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As for the Lakers, they have been in the playoff picture with a 19-7 record. Despite dealing with key absences at times, the Lakers have found ways to win more often than not. Earlier this year, they had an opportunity to play without Doncic and have held their own in his absence.
Back in October, Doncic was ruled out for three games in a row. The Lakers went 2-1 during that stretch. He missed his fourth game on November 3. The Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers on the road.
Recently, Doncic was out for two straight games due to personal reasons. The Lakers split those games, with a win over the Toronto Raptors and a loss against the Boston Celtics.
Heading into Saturday’s action, Doncic had 20 appearances under his belt. He averaged 35.2 points, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 32 percent from three.
Along with his scoring, the star guard produced averages of 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
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