JJ Redick said an injury to Collin Sexton changed his plans for Luka Doncic late in the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
With Austin Reaves already out of the game, Sexton’s exit left the Lakers without another guard Redick had been relying on. Doncic returned, then suffered an ankle injury of his own before Los Angeles finished off a 123-112 victory.
Redick explained the connection between the two departures during his postgame remarks.
“I don’t think Luka would have gotten back in the game had Collin not busted his head open,” said Redick. “So, not having Collin, not having AR, you put Luka back in.”
The explanation addresses why the Lakers’ star was on the floor late in a game they had controlled. Redick was responding to the loss of two ball-handlers before Doncic went down, rather than simply following his original rotation.
How the Lakers’ injuries changed the fourth quarter
The sequence began with Reaves in the third quarter. Reaves landed awkwardly following a missed dunk with 8:21 left in the period. He tried to continue but asked to leave with 5:20 remaining.
Sexton then collided with Milwaukee guard Ryan Rollins with 6:51 left in the fourth quarter. He needed stitches above his right eye, removing another option for handling the ball while Doncic rested.
NAH THE LAKERS ARE ACTUALLY CURSED 😭💀
Sexton took a nasty shot to the eye on defense, got cut open and had to check out of the game.
FIRST AUSTIN REAVES, NOW COLLIN SEXTON???
BRO WHAT DID THE LAKERS BACKCOURT DO TO DESERVE THIS 😭🙏 pic.twitter.com/s3rH2LZMAV
— NBACodex (@Isaacococ999) November 12, 2026
Doncic hurt his right ankle on a jumper while being fouled by Kyle Kuzma with 4:25 remaining. The Lakers were suddenly dealing with injuries to three guards in the same half.
| Player | When | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Reaves | Third quarter | Left with a heel injury after trying to play through an awkward landing. |
| Collin Sexton | 6:51 left, fourth quarter | Exited after a collision with Ryan Rollins; required stitches. |
| Luka Doncic | 4:25 left, fourth quarter | Hurt his right ankle while being fouled on a jumper. |
Redick had a specific target for emptying the bench
There was another part of Redick’s thinking beyond Sexton’s injury.
The coach wanted a lead of at least 20 points with roughly four minutes remaining before turning the finish over to his deep reserves, citing their earlier struggles against Toronto. The Lakers led by 24 when Redick made the late substitutions.
That context explains why the size of the lead was only part of the decision. Redick was also considering how much time remained and which players were available to finish the game. Losing Sexton after Reaves had already departed changed that calculation.
It also put a practical limit on the Lakers’ efforts to distribute Doncic’s workload. Redick had previously outlined ways to ease the pressure on Doncic by having teammates advance the ball and initiate possessions. On Wednesday, two of the guards who can share those responsibilities were unable to continue.
That does not mean Doncic was the only possible substitution. It explains why Redick chose him, and why the coach said Sexton would otherwise have remained part of the closing plan.
What the Lakers said about Doncic and Reaves afterward
The initial comments about Doncic were encouraging. Redick characterized the ankle injury as a minor tweak, while Doncic also sounded optimistic afterward.
“I’m good,” Doncic said. “Obviously it’s painful a little bit, but I’ll be fine. We went 3-0 on the road trip, so that’s very good.”
Reaves still required additional evaluation. His initial X-rays were negative, and Redick said further imaging was planned for Thursday. The coach also said the team was not concerned about an Achilles injury.
Those comments did not establish a return date for Reaves or amount to an official game-status announcement for Doncic. The Lakers’ next game is Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, giving them three days without a game before another availability decision is needed.
Wednesday’s result extended Los Angeles’ winning streak to seven. The next step is determining which guards will be available to help keep it going.
