Getty
Luka Doncic slaps hands with Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of play against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the final stretch of the regular season without their top two offensive engines, forcing coach JJ Redick and his staff to quickly reshape their approach as the Western Conference playoff race tightens.
The team confirmed that Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain and will miss the remainder of the regular season. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is sidelined indefinitely with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, an injury that typically requires multiple weeks of recovery and will also keep him out through the regular-season finale.
The timing leaves the Lakers without 56.8 combined points per game, along with significant playmaking production, at a critical moment with postseason positioning still in flux.
Lakers Forced to Adjust Without Doncic, Reaves
Despite the losses, Redick made it clear the team’s goals remain unchanged.
“There’s enough that we have in that we can, you know, play through LeBron James, play through Luke (Kennard), play through Rui (Hachimura), play through (Deandre Ayton),” Redick said, via The Athletic. “Our mission hasn’t changed. We want to go get the 3 seed and we want to win a first-round series.”
The Lakers currently hold a slim half-game lead over the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed, with the Houston Rockets also within striking distance. With only five games remaining, the margin for error has narrowed considerably.
Redick added that while the organization remains hopeful about Doncic’s eventual return, there is no firm timetable.
“We’ll just wait and see… Luka’s gonna do everything he can to get back on the court. We don’t know what this recovery timetable looks like,” he said.
Reaves Injury Adds to Lakers’ Setback
GettyAustin Reaves is the latest Los Angeles Lakers star to hit the injury list.
Reaves’ injury unfolded during Thursday’s 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, when he felt discomfort after overextending while chasing a rebound in the first half. He briefly left the game for evaluation before returning and finishing with 15 points in 27 minutes.
“I went back to get a rebound, overextended a little bit, and I felt something,” Reaves said after the game. “But I feel decent right now, so we’ll see.”
Further testing revealed the more serious diagnosis. Reaves underwent an MRI on Saturday, though the process was not without complications.
“I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” Redick said, via ESPN. “Not on our end.”
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks, placing his availability for the start of the playoffs in question.
Doncic’s Absence Reshapes Offensive Roles
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Doncic’s hamstring strain, sustained in the same game in Oklahoma City, represents an equally significant blow. Grade 2 strains typically involve partial tearing and require careful rehabilitation, particularly for a player whose game relies heavily on burst, balance and shot creation.
Before the injury, Doncic was averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds, forming a dynamic scoring tandem with Reaves that powered the Lakers’ recent surge.
With both players sidelined, the offensive burden shifts back to James, who had recently transitioned into more of a facilitator role. Over his last seven games, James averaged 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists while attempting just 11.7 shots per game — well below his career average.
Playoff Stakes Intensify for Short-Handed Lakers
The Lakers’ ability to maintain their standing without Doncic and Reaves could ultimately determine their playoff path. Falling out of the No. 3 seed would likely mean a more difficult first-round matchup and losing homecourt advantage, adding further urgency to their closing games.
Redick emphasized discipline and execution as the keys to navigating the stretch.
For now, the Lakers will lean on their depth and experience, hoping their reconfigured rotation can steady them long enough for reinforcements to arrive before the postseason begins.
Alder Almo is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
More Heavy on Lakers
Loading more stories