The Battle of L.A. lost some of its star power on Saturday night. During a highly anticipated showdown against the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was forced to exit the game early with a leg injury. According to an update from the team shared by insider Brett Seigel, Doncic suffered a left leg contusion and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

The injury appeared to occur in the first half as the Lakers tried to keep pace with their Crypto.com Arena rivals. While details on the specific play remain a bit scarce, any lower-body ailment for the Slovenian sensation is enough to send a collective shiver down the spines of the Lakers faithful.

Before his exit, Doncic was trying to keep the Lakers afloat, posting 12 points, four rebounds, and 2 assists in the first half. His departure is a crushing blow to a lineup that is already dangerously thin. With Austin Reaves already sidelined due to injury, the Lakers' offense has been stripped of its secondary and tertiary playmakers, leaving LeBron James on an island.

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The “struggle” was evident immediately. Without Doncic’s creation and Reaves’ steady hand, the Clippers’ defense was able to load up entirely on James, daring anyone else to beat them. For a 40-year-old superstar who continues to defy Father Time, having “no help” against a deep Clippers squad is a recipe for disaster.

Head coach JJ Redick will likely provide more clarity postgame, but the immediate reality is stark. LeBron James is alone, and the Lakers are hurting.