All eyes are on Luka Doncic’s abdomen heading into Sport 4
No, this isn’t a reference to the Dallas Mavericks’ efforts to label Doncic as pudgy after they inexplicably traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season.
It’s about Doncic’s well being. The Lakers revealed that Doncic battled a abdomen bug in Sport 3, which helped clarify his poor efficiency within the Lakers’ 116-104 loss in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday evening.
Doncic missed 10 of 16 pictures and dedicated a handful of turnovers, and the Timberwolves took a 2-1 benefit within the best-of-seven Western Convention quarterfinals sequence.
Now the star-powered Lakers face the opportunity of falling behind 3-1 within the sequence on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. That will put the entire stress on the shoulders of Doncic, LeBron James and the remainder of the Lakers as they return to Los Angeles.
Alternatively, if the Lakers can bounce again Sunday, the sequence might be even at 2-all and Doncic and his teammates will regain home-court benefit for what basically might be a best-of-three race to the end.
All of that is to say that the stress is climbing.
And Doncic is crashing — or no less than he was Friday evening.
The missed pictures had been powerful, particularly as Doncic shot 2 of 8 from 3-point vary. That’s territory the place he has dominated the Timberwolves previously, together with final season with the Mavericks. Followers in Minnesota nonetheless have vivid recollections of Doncic burying a step-back 3-pointer over Rudy Gobert to win Sport 2 of the convention finals.
Doncic’s turnovers had been equally expensive. Anthony Edwards poked the ball free from him earlier than driving the baseline and dunking over Doncic’s head within the third quarter. Gobert acquired a small little bit of revenge in opposition to Doncic as he stole the ball and arrange Jaden McDaniels for a layup and a free throw late within the fourth quarter as Minnesota pulled forward.
Issues may very well be totally different Sunday. For Doncic and the Lakers, they may must be.
Teammate Dorian Finney-Smith noticed how a lot Doncic was hurting at halftime.
“I did not assume he was going to return out (for the) second half,” Finney-Smith mentioned. “Simply because (of) how he sounded. His physique language. How he regarded. He regarded a bit pale right now. He in all probability must hydrate some extra. However like I mentioned, Luka’s powerful.”
The timing was powerful, too.
Doncic averaged a team-high 34 factors within the first two video games of the sequence. He nonetheless leads the Lakers with 28.3 factors per recreation within the sequence regardless of taking part in sick in Sport 3.
“Clearly, together with his sickness, it impacts our crew,” James mentioned. “We perceive what he brings to our crew and what he is accomplished because the acquisition. It undoubtedly took a giant blow for our crew.”
Anybody who has battled a abdomen bug this winter or spring (is that this truly everybody?) is aware of the way it can knock you out for a day or extra. Every thing hurts. You simply wish to be alone in a darkish, quiet room for some time.
Right here’s the issue for Doncic: There’s little or no time for that. He’s going to be in a really crowded, extremely loud room and underneath a really brilliant highlight for Sport 4.
It’s an early tipoff, as nicely, which may pose one other problem. With the sport set to begin at 2:30 p.m. in Minnesota (12:30 p.m. Pacific time), Doncic must get up and get going throughout a interval of the day when he in any other case may have the ability to take a nap.
Lakers coach JJ Redick is hoping for one of the best.
“Hopefully, no matter’s happening, he is feeling higher on Sunday,” Redick mentioned. “I imply, I am unable to (diagnose him). I am not a physician.”
No less than he is trustworthy.
