After battling through a brutal stomach virus in Game 3, Luka Doncic is finally fully recharged and ready for the pivotal Game 4 showdown against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to ESPN’s senior insider Shams Charania, Doncic spent almost all of Saturday resting, recovering, and regaining his strength after a grueling 24-hour stretch where he barely slept or ate and was repeatedly vomiting.
“Luka Doncic is rested and he’s feeling much better. Outside of a team meeting and individual treatment, I’m told Luka Doncic spent all of Saturday sleeping in his bed, which is something he could not do on Thursday and Friday when he was dealing with a viral bug.”
“But he played through it Friday night, he’s feeling a lot stronger, he’s ready to go for Game 4 today after spending all of Saturday sleeping in bed.”
This news could not have come at a better time for the Los Angeles Lakers, who trail 2-1 in the first-round series. In Game 3, Doncic’s illness was glaringly obvious. He managed just 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting and was uncharacteristically passive, especially compared to his dominant efforts in Games 1 and 2, where he averaged 34 points and was the Lakers’ clear offensive engine.
Although he still tallied seven rebounds and eight assists, it was clear his body was betraying him, leaving the Lakers undermanned as they collapsed late in the fourth quarter.
Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged after Game 3 that he was unsure if Luka would even make it out for the second half, revealing that Doncic had been vomiting all afternoon and looked pale and weak.
Teammates, including Dorian Finney-Smith, admitted they were surprised when Luka checked back into the game after halftime. It was a gutsy effort by Doncic, but one that ultimately wasn’t enough as the Lakers committed 19 turnovers and lost control late, allowing the Timberwolves to rip off a 13-1 run to seal the game.
However, with a full day of proper rest and aggressive treatment from the Lakers’ medical staff, Doncic now returns to a much stronger version of himself for Game 4. A fully functional Luka is a game-changer for Los Angeles.
His ability to orchestrate the offense, manipulate the Timberwolves’ defense, and hit big shots in crucial moments is what makes the Lakers a legitimate threat in this series despite missing Anthony Davis following the midseason trade.
LeBron James, who poured in a vintage 38-point performance in Game 3, will also benefit from having a healthier Doncic alongside him. With Luka at full strength, LeBron will not have to carry as heavy a scoring load or initiate every possession, allowing him to pick his spots and conserve energy for crunch time.
Game 4 now becomes a defining moment. If the Lakers can level the series 2-2 before heading back to Los Angeles, they will regain home-court advantage and put all the pressure back on the Timberwolves. If they fall behind 3-1, however, history shows it will be a steep mountain to climb.
For the Lakers, getting Luka Doncic back near 100% might be the spark they desperately need. Now it is time to see if the rested and recharged Slovenian superstar can once again take over and swing the momentum back to purple and gold.
