The immediate and long-term trajectory of the Los Angeles Lakers begins and ends with Luka Doncic. He is the primary reason many analysts still view the team as a legitimate title contender, and his presence alone is what keeps the Lakers faithful glued to their screens every night. Given his value to the franchise, it isn’t particularly surprising that the team has decided to sideline the Slovenian superstar for tonight’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns. With a high-stakes Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets looming on the horizon, the Lakers are clearly prioritizing long-term health over a mid-week regular-season win.
Doncic currently leads the NBA with a staggering average of 34.1 points per game. However, he has been hampered by what the team officially calls a muscle contusion in his left leg, an injury that forced him out of a recent game against the Los Angeles Clippers. While fans held out hope after seeing him practice with a heavily wrapped leg, the medical staff ultimately decided that a return to the floor right now would be premature.
Managing the Physicality of the Season
Lakers head coach J.J. Redick addressed the situation recently, noting that leg issues have become a recurring theme for Doncic this season. The specific injury occurred following a collision with Bogdan Bogdanovic’s knee during the loss to the Clippers. According to Redick, the team is actively looking for ways to better protect their star player from these types of impacts. “It’s happened quite a few times this year,” Redick admitted, highlighting the need for a more sustainable approach to Doncic’s physical workload.
Roster Updates and Returning Starters
Doncic isn’t the only one dealing with the training room staff. The Lakers are seeing a bit of a mixed bag regarding the rest of their rotation. Austin Reaves, who has missed the last three games due to a minor left hamstring strain, participated in portions of recent practices and is currently considered a game-time decision for the Suns game. On the other hand, Rui Hachimura has already been ruled out. As for their opponents, the Phoenix Suns will receive a boost with the return of DeAndre Ayton. The big man is set to rejoin the starting lineup after a two-game absence caused by discomfort in his left elbow.
Zaragoza’s Dramatic Shooting Turnaround in Spain
While the Lakers manage their stars, a different kind of basketball drama has been unfolding in Spain’s Liga Endesa. The three-point shot is the bedrock of the modern game, yet Casademont Zaragoza has spent most of the season struggling to find the bottom of the net. Heading into the eleventh round of the season, their numbers were among the worst in the league, shooting a dismal 31.3% from beyond the arc.
The team’s struggles reached a breaking point during a FIBA Europe Cup game against Aliaga Petkimspor. In a performance that could only be described as a nightmare, Zaragoza managed to hit just a single three-pointer in 40 minutes of play. That lone bucket didn’t even come until the 39th minute. They finished that game shooting 1-for-24, a catastrophic 4.2% success rate that left fans and analysts wondering if the team could ever find its rhythm.
A Masterclass from the Perimeter
Basketball, however, is a game of wild swings. Just four days after their disaster in European play, Jesús Ramírez’s squad looked like a completely different team against Morabanc Andorra. In a stunning reversal of fortune, Zaragoza shattered their season records for attempts, makes, and accuracy all in one night. They exploded for 62 points in the second half alone, with 24 of those coming from long distance.
The statistics from the win over Andorra are staggering when compared to their season averages. They fired 32 shots from deep and connected on 16 of them, hitting the 50% mark. Nine of the eleven players who saw the floor attempted at least one triple, showing a level of collective confidence that had been missing all year. Following the game, coach Jesús Ramírez was quick to praise his players, noting that their sheer determination to keep hunting for those shots was the key to finally breaking the slump.
