The Los Angeles Lakers are pushing deeper into the postseason, but their biggest question mark hasn’t changed, when will Luka Doncic return?
The superstar guard continues to recover from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and while progress is being made, his availability for the start of the second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder has already been ruled out.
“I’m told right now, Luka Doncic will be out to start this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported during a pregame segment. “The Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis with that Grade 2 hamstring strain. So he’s missed about a month right now. One source told me in the last few days, it’s still a slow path on Doncic’s recovery. He’s doing more and more on the court, but right now still not full fledged running or full contact workouts.”
That update paints a cautious picture for Los Angeles, especially given how critical Doncic has been to their success this season.
The team closed the regular season strong behind his scoring dominance, finishing with 53 wins, but now faces a rested Thunder squad without their primary offensive engine.
For the Lakers, this situation is about more than just one series. Doncic battled hamstring issues throughout the year, and the organization appears unwilling to rush him back into action and risk long-term damage.
Even in a high-stakes playoff environment, protecting their franchise cornerstone remains the priority.
There is still a possibility that Doncic could rejoin the lineup later in the series if Los Angeles can stay competitive early. However, against a Thunder team coming off a sweep and entering with significant rest, that task becomes increasingly difficult.
Despite the uncertainty, the Lakers’ postseason run to this point has already exceeded expectations in some respects.
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