Luka Dončić out vs. Pacers, LeBron James doubtful, Mark Williams questionable

The Lakers debut for Luka Dončić will not be on Saturday as he remains out with a calf strain.

UPDATE: Well, it looks like LeBron James likely won’t suit up in this one after all. On Friday evening, the Lakers announced that LeBron had been downgraded to doubtful due to his left ankle soreness.

This would be the first game LeBron has missed since Dec. 28 against the Kings. He has only missed three games all season.

Without him, the Lakers would be well behind the eight ball. But it would set up both LeBron and Luka Dončić entering Monday’s game against the Jazz ready and rested, and that’s an enticing proposition.

Original story follows.

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Luka Dončić’s debut will officially not come on Saturday. The Lakers released their injury report and listed Luka as out.

Mark Williams, meanwhile, is listed as questionable alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

The date of Luka’s debut has bounced back and forth between Saturday and Monday since he became a Laker. Initial reports were that Luka was targeting the weekend for his return.

However, a 5-on-5 game with the stay-ready game that was originally scheduled for Wednesday was pushed back to the end of the week. As a result, his debut was pushed back, too.

By all accounts, then, Luka’s debut will come on Monday at home against the Jazz.

As for Williams, with the trade with the Hornets not being official until late Thursday, the turnaround time will be an issue regarding whether he can get to Los Angeles in time to suit up for an early Saturday tip-off.

While LeBron James is a regular on the injury report, this designation is new. Recently, he had been listed on the report with left foot injury management. Austin Reaves is a new addition, too, with left ankle soreness.

For the Pacers, they will be down one marquee name, too. Myles Turner has been listed as out after taking a shot to the head against the Clippers on Thursday.

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