Luka Doncic is en route back to Los Angeles after spending the past week in Spain undergoing treatment for a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. The Slovenian star is expected to return to the Lakers’ facility Friday ahead of Saturday’s first-round playoff opener against the Houston Rockets.
Doncic has not yet received a return-to-play timeline from the Lakers’ medical staff. A Grade 2 hamstring strain typically requires a minimum of four weeks of recovery. This is a major concern for the Lakers, who enter the postseason with a thin backcourt and already without Austin Reaves, who is sidelined with an oblique injury.
The Mavericks faced a similar dilemma in 2022 when Doncic missed part of the first round of the playoffs with a hamstring injury. He returned for the Western Conference Finals and helped Dallas reach Game 6 of the NBA Finals. That experience could prove valuable for both Doncic and the Lakers as they prepare for a tough first-round matchup with the Rockets.
The Lakers are currently 1.5 games ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 2 seed in the West. They finished the regular season with a 49-33 record. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis set to carry the bulk of the offensive load, the team will be relying heavily on role players and depth to compensate for potential Doncic absences.
In an unrelated matter, Doncic is petitioning the NBA for regular season award eligibility. He played in 64 games this season but missed two in December due to the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. The NBA requires a minimum of 65 games for consideration for awards such as All-NBA or All-Defensive teams.
Reaves, who averaged 12.2 points and 3.7 assists per game this season, is also a big loss for the Lakers. His absence could impact the team’s ability to defend against the Rockets’ high-octane offense.
The Lakers will open the playoffs at home against the Rockets on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. The series is expected to be a best-of-seven battle for playoff survival.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has not yet confirmed whether Doncic will be available for the series opener. The team will make a decision following further evaluations later this week.
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