Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs the Memphis Grizzlies? Latest update on the Los Angeles Lakers star's injury report (January 2, 2026)

Luka Doncic is expected to play tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies on January 3, 2026. He does not appear on the latest injury report after briefly dealing with a left shoulder issue in his last game. The Lakers have cleared him to play.The timing matters for a team trying to steady itself. Los Angeles has several rotation players out, but Doncic and LeBron James are both available. Doncic enters the game averaging 33.5 points per night and remains the main driver of the offense.Luka Doncic left Tuesday’s loss to Detroit after taking contact to his left shoulder. He still finished with 30 points and 11 assists and returned for the fourth quarter, though he was limited late.There were no setbacks afterward. He was not listed on the January 2 injury report, which signals the issue is behind him. The Lakers expect him to handle his usual workload.The Los Angeles Lakers lead the season series 2-0 against Memphis. One of those wins was a 117–112 game in which Luka Doncic scored 44 points and controlled the fourth quarter. At home, Los Angeles has relied heavily on his scoring during a recent rough stretch.Memphis comes in short-handed and looking for a response against a Lakers team sitting at 20–11. With both sides dealing with injuries, the difference comes down to star availability. The Lakers have theirs.Also read: Los Angeles Lakers vs Memphis Grizzlies regular season game: Full injury report, who's out, where to watch, and more (January 2, 2026)Luka Doncic’s presence changes the game. His scoring and passing put pressure on a Memphis rotation missing multiple contributors. If Ja Morant can attack the Lakers’ thin defense, the Grizzlies can stay close. If not, Los Angeles has the edge late, with the ball likely in Doncic’s hands.