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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts after his team is called for a foul.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be shorthanded Thursday night when they host the Dallas Mavericks in their final game before the NBA All-Star break.
Los Angeles will again be without franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić, who remains sidelined with a lingering left calf strain, and starting center Deandre Ayton, who has been ruled out with knee soreness.
The absence of both players removes the Lakers’ primary offensive engine and interior anchor at a critical point in the schedule, forcing coach JJ Redick to manage minutes and responsibilities carefully heading into the break.
Ayton Sidelined Again as Lakers Take Cautious Approach
GettyDeandre Ayton of the Los Angeles Lakers was a late scratch against the Golden State Warriors.
Ayton’s knee issue dates back to last weekend and has limited him to just one brief appearance over the Lakers’ past four games. The former No. 1 overall pick returned Monday in a 119–110 loss, logging 29 minutes but finishing with six points on five shots while collecting 10 rebounds.
It was clear that the discomfort never fully subsided.
“He went out for his shooting stretch and just didn’t feel completely comfortable with it,” Redick said after Saturday’s win over the Golden State Warriors. “I don’t think there’s any reason to believe it’s anything but day-to-day.”
Still, the Lakers opted for caution, ruling Ayton out for his third missed game in the last four. Through 46 games this season, the 7-footer is averaging 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game.
Ayton signed a two-year, $16.2 million contract with Los Angeles last summer following a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, with a player option for the second year.
Dončić Nears 65-Game Threshold for Awards Eligibility
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after getting hit on the head by Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. in the first half.
Dončić will miss his fourth straight game and 12th of the 2025–26 season due to the calf strain, tightening the margin for his eligibility under the NBA’s 65-game minimum for postseason awards.
The Slovenian star can now afford to miss only five more games the rest of the season to remain eligible for All-NBA honors and awards such as MVP. He would need to appear in at least 23 of the Lakers’ remaining 28 games after the All-Star break to stay in contention for the Michael Jordan Trophy.
Last season, Dončić missed out on All-NBA recognition after appearing in just 50 games across stops with Dallas and Los Angeles, also due to a calf injury. Prior to that, he earned five consecutive All-NBA First Team selections, becoming the youngest player in league history to accomplish the feat.
In 2024, Dončić also joined a rare company as just the fourth player to make five All-NBA First Teams within his first six NBA seasons.
MVP Race Tightens as Dončić Sits
Dončić entered the All-Star break ranked No. 2 on the most recent Kia MVP Ladder, trailing only reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He had previously overtaken Nikola Jokić after the Denver Nuggets star missed extended time, but Dončić’s own injury absence now threatens to stall that momentum.
The Lakers have not yet ruled him out of Sunday’s All-Star Game, signaling optimism that he could return for the Feb. 20 matchup against the LA Clippers, Los Angeles’ first game after the break.
Lakers Lean on LeBron James, Austin Reaves
Without Dončić and Ayton, the Lakers will rely heavily on LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
James is expected to return after sitting out Tuesday’s 136–108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs for injury management on the second night of a back-to-back.
Reaves, easing back from a 19-game calf-related absence, has averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in just 24.8 minutes since he returned as Redick carefully ramps up his workload.
For one more night, that duo will have to carry the load — with the Lakers hoping rest over the All-Star break brings their lineup closer to full strength for the stretch run.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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