Lakers’ Luka Doncic ‘progressing good’ but All-Star status is unclear

LOS ANGELES — Since Luka Doncic held his left hamstring, trotting off the floor into the locker room last week against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers have been in a holding pattern heading regarding the Slovenian star heading into the All-Star break.

Doncic’s status remains “day-to-day,” but snowballed into enough absences to where the league’s leading scorer won’t return to regular-season action until at least next Friday (Feb. 20) when the Lakers host the Clippers, Coach JJ Redick said Thursday.

“He’s progressed really good,” Redick said of Doncic, who still got work in before the Lakers’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. “I think part of him, you know, wanted to push to get back part of the break, but, you know, we just got to be cautious with the soft tissue injuries. … We all feel comfortable with the decision to hold him out and should be good to go post-All-Star (break).”

Doncic’s status for Sunday’s All-Star Game, however, is still unclear. When asked about his availability for the USA vs. the World mini-tournament at the Intuit Dome, and if Doncic had to check off certain boxes before being cleared to play this weekend, Redick had the same response to both questions.

“That’s above my pay grade,” Redick said.

Redick added that although center Deandre Ayton (right knee soreness) would not play against Dallas on Thursday, missing his second consecutive game, the Lakers’ big man had imaging done on his leg and everything came back “clear.” Guard Austin Reaves will remain on a minutes restriction (at about 25 minutes) as he continues to return from a left calf strain that kept him out of the lineup from Christmas until last week.

KENNARD STILL ADJUSTING

Since guard Luke Kennard joined the Lakers in the trade deadline-day swap with the Atlanta Hawks for guard Gabe Vincent and a future second-round draft pick, there has been little time for rest. One week since the trade and less than a week since his Lakers debut against the Golden State Warriors – in which he scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting – Kennard has yet to have a day of practice with the team, instead going with the flow of day-to-day operations while Redick and Co. upload the veteran sharpshooter on the playbook.

“I think he’s in a good place,” Redick said of Kennard. “It takes a little bit of time. It would be nice to have time to practice. And, you know, I think he’s been very diligent with (assistant coach) Lindsay (Harding) in film study, and he’s been very diligent about asking questions. He’s sharp. He can pick things up quickly.”

Redick explained that the team last practiced on Dec. 27, and that the lack of two days off between any games until late March has forced crunched preparation tactics for not just Kennard but the entire roster. Redick pointed to next Wednesday and Thursday’s post-All-Star Game off days as opportunities for practices – a chance for adjustments before the final stretch before the postseason nears into vision in the months ahead.

Kennard has averaged 10.3 points per game on 60% shooting from the field in 26 minutes per game across his first three nights in purple and gold. The 29-year-old, who leads the NBA with a 49.4% mark from 3-point range, is 4 for 9 from behind the arc with the Lakers.