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JJ Redick Provides Luka Doncic Update After Lakers Win Over 76ers cover image

Luka Doncic left the game in the first half against the 76ers on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Lakers took down the Philadelphia 76ers 119-115 Thursday night in a huge comeback win, but it wasn't without it's scary moments. 

Namely, star Luka Doncic was forced to leave the game in the first half and limped off the court. Lakers head coach JJ Redick provided an update on Doncic's status following the game, though he disclosed that he didn't have all the information yet and couldn't provide a concrete announcement until Doncic underwent testing.

"He felt some soreness in his hamstring so he didn't feel like it was good enough to go back in, neither did medical, so we held him out and [we'll] go get some imaging. Too early to say if it's an injury," Redick said (via The Sporting Tribune).

Doncic played just 16 minutes, but he was on a tear in the time that he was on the court. Doncic had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists on 3-10 shooting before he had to leave the game. 

With Doncic out, several other Lakers stepped up to the plate, especially Austin Reaves, who is only two game back from an injury of his own. 

Lakers Comeback Led By Reaves

Reaves remains on a minutes restriction since coming back, but that clearly didn't slow him down. In 25 minutes Reaves had 35 points on 12-17 shooting along with six rebounds and two assists and with that kind of production, Redick feels more than okay keeping his star guard's minutes down for the time being. 

The Lakers had to fight hard for every point in Thursday's game and after falling behind fast in the first half 59-51, they had to did deep to find an advantage, especially without Doncic on the floor.

That advantage came in the second half when the Lakers had 34 points in each of the last two quarters to outscore the 76ers by 12 and steal the game away. 

Redick chalked up the Lakers' lackluster first half to a series of mental mistakes, with turnovers being the main culprit.

A Strong Second Half

By comparison the second half was a much cleaner game from Los Angeles and despite big performances on the Philadelphia end from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, solid performances throughout the Los Angeles lineup gave the Lakers the grit they needed to find an advantage. 

"I thought our toughness and our physicality really just allowed us to get back in the game," Redick said. 

The win improves the Lakers to 31-19, but the biggest question now that the game is over is what Doncic's status will be.

The Lakers have had the frustrating problem of all their Big Three in Doncic, Reaves and James all missing significant time interspersed throughout the season and for Doncic to have to leave the game early at all while Reaves has just made his return is yet another example of that problem. 

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