Luka Doncic left the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder with a hamstring injury. As expected, alarms have gone off heading into the 2026 NBA playoffs, although LeBron James said the Lakers must survive without their leader.
“Nothing has changed. We still will be together. Obviously, we will be tested with the head of the snake gone. Don’t want to make no conclusions, but we’ll see what happens with him and then we’ll go from there. But, nothing has rattled. It’s one game. It’s part of the NBA season.”
The Lakers are trying to hold on to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and had posted an extraordinary record in March. However, the 139-96 loss to the Thunder was a reality check.
How long is Luka Doncic out with the Lakers?
It is still unknown how long Luka Doncic will be out with the Lakers. This Friday he will undergo an MRI to determine how serious his hamstring injury is. He may not be able to return during the regular season.
Have the Lakers clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs?
Yes. The Los Angeles Lakers have clinched a spot in the playoffs, and the only thing left to determine is their seed in the Western Conference. Everything points to them facing the Nuggets, Rockets, or Timberwolves in the first round.
LeBron wished Luka a speedy recovery. “At this point, at this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see. When you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury. So, pray for the best and a speedy recovery.”
