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Lakers guard Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 hamstring injury.
The Los Angeles Lakers were building toward something special. Two days ago, they had won 16 of their last 18 games and were starting to look like a legitimate championship contender.
Then Luka Doncic went down.
The Lakers’ NBA title odds have collapsed from 30-1 to 125-1 on FanDuel Sportsbook following Friday’s confirmation that Doncic is dealing with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. He will miss the rest of the regular season and potentially part of the postseason. In a matter of hours, the entire complexion of the Western Conference playoff picture changed.
What the Injury Means
GettyLakers guard Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 hamstring injury.
Doncic suffered the strain in the third quarter of Thursday’s 139-96 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, coming up limping after driving to the basket. He had already been grabbing at his hamstring late in the first half but was cleared to continue. The second-half exit told a different story.
An MRI in Dallas on Friday revealed the extent of the damage. A Grade 2 strain typically carries a monthlong recovery timeline. The NBA playoffs begin April 18. The math is concerning.
Beat writer Jovan Buha noted the average recovery window is three to six weeks, which would put Doncic’s return anywhere from the first round to the second round depending on how quickly he heals. In theory, he could be back for a conference finals run if Los Angeles advances that far. That is the best-case scenario. The worst case is considerably more troubling.
LeBron James did not hide how he felt after Thursday’s game.
“At this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see,” LeBron said. “Especially anybody on our team, but when you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury.”
The Numbers Behind the Loss
The timing could not be worse. Doncic had just been named the Western Conference Player of the Month for March, averaging 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while scoring 600 total points over that stretch. His 38.1 usage rate leads the NBA and is a career high.
On Thursday, he was having one of his worst games in weeks before the injury ended his night. He made just 3-of-10 from the field with six turnovers in 25 minutes. The Thunder dominated from the opening tip and led by at least 30 points for most of the game.
There is also an awards angle worth noting. Doncic has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, leaving him one game short of the 65-game minimum required for MVP and All-NBA consideration. His agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball released a statement announcing they intend to apply for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” to the 65-game rule, citing Doncic missing two games for the birth of his second child in Slovenia in December.
“This season, Luka Dončić has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory,” Duffy said. “His record-breaking season deserves to be noted in the history books, despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances.”
It is a significant development that adds another layer to an already difficult situation for the Lakers and their franchise player.
Who Steps Up for the Lakers
GettyAustin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles sits at 50-27 and holds third place in the Western Conference with a one-game lead over the Denver Nuggets. The seeding picture remains important even without Doncic in the lineup.
Austin Reaves will be asked to carry a significantly heavier load. He has thrived in games without Doncic this season and his availability is critical after also dealing with a back issue on Thursday. Marcus Smart has been out with an ankle contusion but could return Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic’s former team.
Luke Kennard, who arrived via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, played 33 minutes against the Thunder on Thursday and figures to see more time with Doncic sidelined.
Final Word for the Lakers
From 30-1 to 125-1 overnight. That is the scale of what Thursday’s injury means for Los Angeles.
The Lakers are still third in the West. They still have LeBron. They still have Reaves. But without Doncic, the path to a championship just became considerably more difficult.
The playoffs begin April 18. The clock is ticking.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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