Lakers' Luka Doncic likely out at least one week with a sprained finger and a bruised leg

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic is expected to be sidelined for at least a week because of a sprained finger on his left hand and a bruised lower left leg, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Sunday.

“You’re obviously losing a guy who creates an advantage on every possession on the offensive end. That’s the toughest part,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters at Golden 1 Center “We have to be cognizant of the personnel and we have to do everything with pace.”

Doncic had been off to a spectacular start to the season with back-to-back 40-point games for the Lakers, who play at Sacramento on Sunday night. He will be reevaluated in approximately one week, the team said.

Doncic scored 43 points in the Lakers’ loss to Golden State on opening night, and he racked up 49 in a victory over Minnesota on Friday night. Doncic scorched the Timberwolves despite spraining a finger on his non-shooting hand in the opening minutes.

The Lakers also are without LeBron James, who will be sidelined until at least mid-November because of sciatica.

Doncic’s probable one-week absence comes at an inopportune time for Los Angeles, which has six games in the next nine days. The Lakers will have to lean heavily on Austin Reaves, who has scored 51 points in their first two games.

“We’re going to need offense from other guys,” Redick said. “Everything’s got to be done within the framework of what we’re trying to do.”

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