Lakers' Luka Doncic Suffers Back Injury at End of First Half of Game 5 vs. Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers headed into the locker room trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves by 10 points in a potentially series-ending Game 5. However, that may not be the Lakers’ biggest halftime issue. 

Superstar guard Luka Doncic appeared to be favoring his back as he exited the court. Mirjam Swanson, a sports columnist with the Southern California News Group, posted video of Doncic walking into the locker room on her X account. Right at the end of the reel, Doncic can be seen gripping at his lower back with his right hand. 

“‘Luka, come back!’ one fan shouts as Luka heads toward the locker room,” Swanson captioned the video. 

“Luka, come back!” one fan shouts as Luka heads toward the locker room. pic.twitter.com/j5P6TiWnYK

— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) May 1, 2025

Doncic returned to the floor ahead of the first half with a belt around his waist, confirming an issue to his back. 

L.A. faces an uphill battle to erase a double-digit second-half deficit already, as the Timberwolves own a 3-1 lead and have dominated the Lakers during the fourth quarter across the series. 

If Doncic is hampered at all, the Lakers are certain to have an even more difficult time capturing the must-win Game 5 and forcing a Game 6 back in Minnesota later this week. 

Doncic ended the second quarter as the Lakers’ top scorer with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. LeBron James and Rui Hachimura each added 10 points, while Austin Reaves chipped in with nine points in the first two quarters. 

Even if Los Angeles is able to come back and win Game 5, any lingering back issues for Doncic will make winning three games in a row against the Timberwolves that much more difficult and that much more unlikely. 

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