Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic downplayed the severity of an apparent leg injury following Tuesday night’s season-opening 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Questions were raised after the guard was regularly seen grabbing the inside of his right leg, near his groin, in the final moments of the match.
“It’s probably nothing,” Doncic said. “I just felt it a little bit because my hip went the opposite direction. I felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.”
Doncic had 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a game-high 41 minutes.
The Lakers played their first game without four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, who suffers from sciatica. Los Angeles returns to action Friday against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
Doncic, 26, was acquired by the Lakers in a surprise trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February, then signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension in August.
A five-time All-Star, Doncic averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 451 career games (all starts) with the Mavericks (2018-25) and Lakers.
–Field level media
