The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Luka Doncic for their game against the Toronto Raptors on December 4 due to personal reasons. Doncic, who is in his first full season with the Lakers after a trade from Dallas, is averaging a league-leading 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.9 assists in 16 games. The Lakers, currently 15-5 and second in the Western Conference, also will miss guard Marcus Smart with lower-back pain. Despite injuries, the Lakers have started strong this season, with standout performances from Austin Reaves and newcomer Deandre Ayton. The Toronto Raptors, sitting at 15-7 and second in the Eastern Conference, will also be missing key players. Center Jakob Poeltl is out for the first half of the back-to-back due to a back injury, and wing RJ Barrett remains sidelined with a knee injury. Poeltl, averaging 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds, has missed seven games, while Barrett, averaging 19.4 points, has been out for six consecutive games. The game at Scotiabank Arena is expected to be competitive, with the Raptors aiming to continue their recent winning streak after beating the Trail Blazers. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET, with projections favoring the Raptors by 2.5 points. The absence of Doncic and Poeltl could significantly impact team dynamics, making this matchup a key event in the ongoing NBA season.