James has yet to play this season as he nurses sciatica. Meanwhile, Doncic was ruled out as the Lakers managed his lower left leg injury after suiting up on Sunday. Austin Reaves, for his part, is dealing with right groin soreness.

Dončić is off to a historic start with 165 total points through four games — the most by any Lakers player and the most by any NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain’s 205 points in 1962-63. He’s averaging 41.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard made a buzzer-beater and finished with 34 points to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 126-124 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in the first game of the NBA Cup group stage for both teams.

The Los Angeles Lakers may be without two of their star players in Monday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Young Buckets: Coinciding with his leap is the emergence of rookie VJ Edgecombe (20.3 ppg) and fifth-year guard Quentin Grimes (18.2), giving Philly three guards 25 or younger averaging 18+ points

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are 7-0 and became the third team in NBA history to start 7-0 in back-to-back seasons and the first since the 1993-95 Rockets. Without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City hasn’t skipped a beat as another example of how valuable SGA is.

Reaves was also listed on the Lakers' official NBA injury report ahead of Monday night's clash against the Trail Blazers. He was listed as out on the report due to right groin soreness, according to ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin. "Full injury report: Austin Reaves is also out," McMenamin said.