MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic played in Game 3 of the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves despite dealing with a stomach ailment that included vomiting in the hours before tipoff, coach JJ Redick said Friday. The Los Angeles Lakers lost the game 116-104.
Doncic's performance was below his usual standard. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting, adding seven rebounds and eight assists along with five turnovers. This followed games where he averaged 34 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Sources indicated to ESPN that Doncic experienced an upset stomach and chills Thursday. Redick noted the illness impacted Doncic's sleep the previous night. After attending shootaround Friday morning, he still felt unwell following a nap.
LeBron James, who led the Lakers with 38 points, spoke on the effect of Doncic's condition. "Obviously, with his illness, it impacts our team," James said. "We understand what he brings to our team and what he's done since the acquisition. It definitely took a big blow for our team."
The Timberwolves took advantage of Doncic's limitations, applying more defensive pressure and targeting him in pick-and-rolls. Players like Jaden McDaniels found opportunities to attack.
Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Sunday, providing a short turnaround for Doncic to recover. His reduced effectiveness in Game 3 placed additional strain on the Lakers' offense, which struggled to reach triple-digits consistently through the first three games.
Beyond the illness, the Lakers face challenges with depth and size against the Timberwolves. Redick stated the team lacks "rim protection." This leaves them vulnerable when opponents drive to the basket.
Matt Peralta, writing for Lakers Nation, reported on the coach's comments about Doncic's pre-game condition. The Game 3 loss puts the Lakers behind 2-1 in the series.
"In the postseason, there is no room for error," James said. "... In the postseason, obviously, you're not gonna play a perfect game. But the more that you make mistakes on top of mistakes, on top of mistakes, things that can be controlled, then it's not gonna give you an opportunity to be in the best possible chance to win."
