According to ESPN‘s Shams Charania, Doncic will not return for the remainder of the series, even if it extends to a Game 7. On the other hand, Reaves is expected to make his playoff debut this season in Game 5.

Additionally, Charania reported that the Rockets are preparing to face the Lakers without Durant in their lineup. After his latest update, coupled with comments from Amen Thompson, Charania suggested Durant will not be available for Game 5.

Furthermore, JJ Redick, the head coach, indicated that Doncic is nearing a potential return, as recent injury reports suggest he may be back sooner than anticipated.

Projected lineups for Game 5 between Lakers and Rockets

Given these developments, Reaves is anticipated to be in the lineup, having been absent since April 2 in a regular-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here are the projected lineups for both teams:

• Los Angeles Lakers projected lineup:
  • PG: Austin Reaves
  • SG: Marcus Smart
  • SF: Rui Hachimura
  • PF: LeBron James
  • C: Deandre Ayton

• Houston Rockets projected lineup:
  • PG: Reed Sheppard
  • SG: Amen Thompson
  • SF: Tari Eason
  • PF: Jabari Smith Jr.
  • C: Alperen Sengun

If the Lakers win, they will secure their spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Conversely, a Rockets win will force a Game 6, offering them a chance to rebound in the series, which currently stands at 3-1 in favor of Los Angeles. Both teams will miss one of their key players for this game, but the drive to advance in the NBA playoffs remains strong.

According to ESPN‘s Dave McMenamin, head coach JJ Redick disclosed that Doncic has started engaging in some on-court movements. “Most of his activity [previously] had been stationary,” Redick noted, as cited by McMenamin.

In his report, Dr. Jesse Morse shared his insights on Doncic’s rehabilitation timeline via social media, estimating that Doncic is approximately 10-14 days away from returning to action. This timeline, mentioned by McMenamin, suggests that Doncic could potentially assist the Lakers in a hypothetical Western Conference semifinal, as they are just one win away from clinching their spot.

Following Game 4, in which LeBron James criticized the officiating over controversial ejections, there are still adjustments needed for the Lakers to secure that position.

Doncic in a different situation than Reaves

While Doncic’s return to the court remains uncertain, Austin Reaves appears ready to play on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets in Game 5.

Though he was rumored to be ready for Game 3, medical staff advised waiting until Game 4, which took place on Sunday. Redick mentioned Reaves might be available for that game on a game-time decision basis. However, Reaves was sidelined, building anticipation for Wednesday’s matchup.

With the Lakers in a strong position to secure their place in the Western Conference semifinals, and the potential return of Reaves and Doncic on the horizon, there is optimism about what the Lakers can achieve in the playoffs.

Despite early rumors suggesting Doncic could potentially be available for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets, Charania revealed a much more sobering sentiment from within the Lakers‘ organization regarding both Doncic and Reaves.

“The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is actually further along than Luka Doncic in their respective rehab processes. I am told Reaves has started 1-on-1 on-court work,” Charania reported. “The Lakers are not expecting Luka Doncic to return in this series. He remains out indefinitely.”

While fans held out hope for a swift return for Doncic, Charania’s report has largely extinguished that possibility. The news has left the Lakers’ faithful concerned about the team’s postseason ceiling as the Purple and Gold navigate the mounting challenges ahead.

Austin Reaves nearing next phase of recovery

While Doncic has yet to cleared for 1-on-1 contact, Reaves has already reached that critical milestone. According to the recovery protocol, Reaves will next need to progress to 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 full-court work before he is deemed fit to return to the active roster.

Although both players were initially given a similar 4-to-6-week recovery window, Reaves has progressed at a notably faster rate. As a result, Reaves has emerged as a viable option to return at some point later in the playoffs, while Doncic’s status remains clouded by an indefinite timeline.

The road ahead for Los Angeles

With Game 2 slated for Tuesday against the Rockets, the Lakers must first find a way past Houston to secure a spot in the Western Conference Semifinals. From there, the path to the NBA Finals becomes increasingly steep, requiring deep runs through the Conference Finals and beyond.

While Reaves’ return remains a possibility for those later rounds, the Lakers face the very real prospect of being without Doncic for the remainder of the postseason, even if they continue to advance through the bracket.

“I had Luka constantly calling me his ‘Slovenian brother,'” Hayes told reporters after confirming he now holds a Slovenian passport. The bond between the two further underscores Doncic’s growing influence as a foundational leader within the Lakers‘ roster.

While the citizenship news may seem secondary to the NBA season, the chemistry developing between Doncic and his supporting cast is a primary reason why Los Angeles remains a heavy favorite to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.

Even though Doncic was a notable omission from the NBA’s final MVP ballot, his focus remains squarely on the postseason. The five-time All-NBA selection is currently gearing up for a potential return in Game 3 against the Houston Rockets, where he aims to help the Lakers punch their ticket to the Western Conference Semifinals.

Doncic’s dominant 2025-26 campaign

Doncic has been the engine behind the Lakers’ resurgence this season, providing both veteran leadership and a historic statistical output. His regular-season performance cemented his status as the most versatile offensive threat in the league.

Ahead of his anticipated return to the lineup, here is a look at Doncic’s league-leading regular season averages:

• Games Played: 64
• Minutes Per Game: 35.8
• Points Per Game: 33.5 (NBA Scoring Title)
• Assists Per Game: 8.3
• Rebounds Per Game: 7.7
• Steals Per Game: 1.6
• Field Goal Percentage: 47.6%
• Three-Point Percentage: 36.6%
• Free Throw Percentage: 78.0%
• True Shooting Percentage: 61.6%

Slovenia’s projected international lineup

Hayes’ addition provides the Slovenian National Team with much-needed size and athleticism at the rim. Here is how the Slovenian rotation is projected to look with two NBA starters in the mix:

• PG: Luka Doncic
• SG: Ziga Samar
• SF: Gregor Hrovat
• PF: Klemen Prepelic
• C: Jaxson Hayes

Instead, the MVP will be awarded to one of the following: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama. As a result, the league’s most prestigious individual award will be in contention between a three-time winner, the reigning MVP, and a third-year phenom that’s destined to change the NBA forever.

While all three finalists have enough merit of their own, the league’s decision to leave Doncic out of the cut is one that fans don’t exactly love or understand. The decision has made waves all over social media, with the league facing backlash for snubbing the Slovenian star.

Fans react to Doncic’s snub from MVP finalists

It didn’t take long before fans throughout the league to express their dislike for the decision. It wasn’t exclusive to Lakers fans or in the South California region, either. “Luka got robbed,” was a common comment by fans on social media.

Others pointed to the fact things might be different if Doncic didn’t play alongside LeBron James in the City of Angels. “Luka’s disrespect is unreal,” an upset user wrote on X. “This is why MVP is a joke,” an angry fan stated.

Luka Doncic’s stats in 2025-26 NBA season

Although he only appeared in 64 games throughout the regular season, Doncic managed to put up incredible numbers while leading the Lakers to a fourth-seed berth out of the Western Conference in the NBA Playoffs.

Doncic finished the season with the league’s best points-per-game average at 33.5 and the third-best assists average at 8.3. He also averaged the second-most three-pointers made per game at 4.0. Only Stephen Curry, at 4.4, had a better mark.

Despite falling just short of the NBA’s minimum of 65 appearances to contend for awards, Doncic’s challenge was ruled in favor due to him missing two games when attending the birth of her daughter, Olivia, in Slovenia in December 2025. Still, the NBA doesn’t have him in consideration for the Most Valuable Player recognition.

When is MVP named?

The MVP will be announced in May. Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on May 21st. This year, fans can expect a similar timeline for the announcement.

Their absence represents a massive blow for the Lakers, who will be without their two leading scorers to open the series. Doncic is dealing with a hamstring strain, while Reaves is recovering from an oblique injury.

They both sustained injuries in early April during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their combined production this season made them the backbone of LA’ offense, and their unavailability dramatically alters the team’s outlook.

When are Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves expected to return?

Point guard Luka Doncic and shooting guard Austin Reaves are currently out indefinitely, with no confirmed return date for the start of the NBA series and uncertain availability for the rest of the first round.

According to reports, Doncic is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, while Reaves is recovering from an oblique injury. Initial timelines suggest he could miss 4 to 6 weeks, while Doncic’s recovery remains more uncertain.

There is still a possibility that one or both players could return later in the series if it extends to Games 5, 6, or 7, but that scenario depends entirely on recovery progress. For now, the Lakers are preparing to move forward without them.

Can the Lakers still win without Doncic and Reaves?

Yes, but the Lakers face a significantly tougher challenge without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, as they lose their two primary offensive engines. Their absence forces a complete tactical shift.

Together, Doncic and Reaves accounted for a massive portion of the Lakers’ scoring and playmaking production this season, combining for elite numbers that anchored the team’s offensive identity.

That said, Los Angeles still has veteran leadership and playoff experience, particularly through players like LeBron James, who is expected to take on an even larger role.

However, analysts widely view the Houston Rockets as favorites in the series largely because of these injuries, given their physicality, depth, and defensive consistency, according to the New York Post.

Who will replace Dončić and Reaves in the Los Angeles Lakers lineup?

With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined, the popular franchise led by head coach JJ Redick is expected to rely on a committee approach rather than a direct replacement. The Lakers’ rotation will shift toward a more collective identity.

Los Angeles will lean heavily on LeBron James as the primary offensive engine, while players like Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura are set to take on expanded scoring and playmaking roles.

Beyond the offensive adjustments, depth will also play a key role. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia are projected to see increased minutes, especially to provide defensive intensity and versatility against the Houston Rockets.

As reported by insider Shams Charania, Doncic and Cunningham are still in contention for awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-NBA selections despite playing in less than 65 games this season—the minimum required to be eligible for annual awards.

However, Doncic and Cunningham appealed under the Extraordinary Circumstances provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the NBA and Players Association (NBAPA) ruled in their favor. Edwards, who appeared in 60 games this campaign, also filed a challenge, but he didn’t have the same luck as the Lakers and Pistons point guards. After all, four games may make a huge difference.

NBA sends out official statement

“The NBA and NBAPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA,” the NBA’s statement read.

“Edwards, who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator. Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards in the 2025-26 NBA regular season.”

Why Doncic’s challenge was successful

Though they still put up very strong numbers, Doncic, Cunningham, and Edwards fought setbacks and injuries all season long. The Slovenian star has been dealing with a hamstring Grade 2 strain recently. Doncic flew to Spain to undergo special treatment.

As he returned to the City of Angels, the Lakers learned Doncic may not return before Game 3 of the first round series against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Playoffs. However, the league explained his challenge was successful not because of the injuries, but because he appeared in 64 qualified games, and missed two games when he attended the birth of his daughter in Slovenia.

Cunningham and Edwards’ cases

As for Cunningham, he missed a large portion of the 2025–26 schedule due to a collapsed left lung. Thus, as he appeared in 63 qualified games, per the NBA’s statement, the league took into account the rarity of his setback, which caused him to fall short of the 65-game criteria.

Edwards has dealt with knee issues, and that largely explains his games total being below 65. However, the NBA believes that isn’t quite an “extraordinary circumstance.” As a result, Edwards, who finished the year with an average of 28.8 points (third-best in the league), is now out of the race for MVP and All-NBA teams. Doncic (33.5 PPG average, best in the league) and Cunningham are still in contention for awards.

Amid the cloud of uncertainty, injury analyst Dr. Jesse Morse suggested via X (formerly Twitter) that Doncic may still be over a week away from live action. “He’s flying back to LA to finish his rehab and attempt to return as safely as possible. He realistically needs at least another 10 days,” Morse posted, casting doubt on an early-series return.

If that timeline hold true, the earliest Doncic would likely take the floor is Game 3, scheduled for Friday, May 23. Per the official postseason fixture, the Lakers will have to navigate the opening matchups without their superstar playmaker if the 10-day window remains firm.

The situation has left the Lakers’ faithful on edge. While Doncic has been aggressive in his rehabilitation efforts to return for this specific series, he currently remains sidelined alongside Austin Reaves, leaving the Lakers shorthanded as they prepare for the Rockets‘ high-octane offense.

JJ Redick addresses Doncic’s status

With the Rockets series looming, head coach JJ Redick was pressed for updates on the health of both his Slovenian star and Austin Reaves. Redick’s guarded response did little to ease concerns, leaving the immediate future of the Lakers’ postseason rotation up in the air.

However, LeBron James appeared unfazed by the prospect of an undermanned start. Despite Doncic missing the tail end of the regular season, James remains focused on the task at hand, projecting confidence in the roster’s ability to hold the line.

For now, the Lakers’ focus remains squarely on stealing Game 1 this Saturday. Securing an opening victory would be the first crucial step toward their ultimate goal: raising another championship banner in June.

JJ Redick spoke to the press about the injury statuses of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and said both are expected to remain sidelined, leaving a significant gap in the team’s offensive rhythm and overall depth.

With fewer options available, all eyes turn to James to lead the response against a Houston side eager to capitalize. In a game that already carried weight, the circumstances have only made the challenge steeper for Los Angeles.

What injuries are keeping them out for the Lakers?

Luka Doncic is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, while Austin Reaves is sidelined with a Grade 2 oblique injury. Both issues originated in early April and have since ruled them out for the start of the series against the Houston Rockets.

For the NBA franchise, Doncic’s injury has been particularly complex. The star guard suffered the hamstring strain on April 2 and even traveled overseas to undergo specialized treatment in an effort to accelerate his recovery.

Despite that, typical timelines for this type of injury hover around several weeks, leaving his availability for the series in serious doubt. Reaves’ situation is more clearly defined, but still impactful.

The guard sustained his oblique strain in the same game and was believed to miss between four and six weeks, effectively ruling him out for at least the early portion of the matchup. However, as of now, both remain out indefinitely.

How long will Doncic and Reaves be out for the Lakers?

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are out indefinitely, with no clear timeline for their return. JJ Redick made it clear there won’t be any updates this week, reinforcing the uncertainty surrounding both players’ recoveries.

That lack of clarity complicates both short-term planning and their outlook moving forward. They are central to the team’s offensive flow, and without a defined return date, the coaching staff must continue adjusting on the fly.

As a result, LeBron James is expected to shoulder an even heavier burden, especially in a demanding matchup against the Houston Rockets, where depth and rhythm could make all the difference.

Lakers vs Rockets playoff series schedule: Game dates

• Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 2026 – Rockets vs Lakers
• Game 2: TBD – Rockets vs Lakers
• Game 3: TBD – Lakers vs Rockets
• Game 4: TBD – Lakers vs Rockets
• Game 5 (if necessary): TBD – Rockets vs Lakers
• Game 6 (if necessary): TBD – Lakers vs Rockets
• Game 7 (if necessary): TBD – Rockets vs Lakers

According to Charania in Pat McAfee Show, Doncic is scheduled to fly back from Europe on Tuesday to rejoin the Lakers. Upon his arrival, he will undergo an immediate re-evaluation by the team’s medical staff to determine his availability for the start of the postseason. The Lakers are hopeful, but his status for the series opener remains up in the air.

Doncic had been rehabbing in Madrid, a move recommended to the Lakers to facilitate his recovery. He has been sidelined since the first week of April, last appearing in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. While the team managed his absence, the focus now shifts to how quickly he can find his rhythm on the playoff stage.

Despite the uncertainty, LeBron James has been vocal about the challenge of navigating the postseason without his co-star. The Lakers’ championship aspirations largely hinge on Doncic’s health, and the expectation in the locker room is that his return could provide the spark needed for a deep run.

Doncic secures NBA scoring title

While Lakers fans anxiously await his return to the court, the Slovenian superstar did receive some hardware this week. Doncic officially secured the NBA scoring title, averaging a staggering 33.5 points per game during the regular season. It is a career milestone that serves as a reminder of his offensive dominance heading into the postseason.

However, the scoring title remains a bit of a consolation prize. Due to the NBA’s 65-game eligibility rule, Doncic fell just short of MVP consideration, finishing the year with 64 games played. For Doncic and the Lakers, individual accolades take a backseat to the ultimate goal: a 2026 NBA Championship.

Austin Reaves update

Doncic wasn’t the only Laker rehabbing in Madrid. Austin Reaves, who also missed the tail end of the regular season, is facing his own uphill battle to return to the rotation. Reaves’ absence has thinned the Lakers’ backcourt depth, leaving the coaching staff searching for answers.

Charania reports that Reaves is expected to miss the entire first round as he recovers from an oblique injury. While the team remains optimistic about his long-term recovery, the immediate focus is locked on ensuring Doncic is in peak form to carry the load against the Rockets.

Falling to No. 5 would still keep them in the same matchup range, but the difference in hosting Game 1, and potentially a Game 7, could be significant, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. James was asked about the importance of finishing fourth instead of fifth, but he downplayed the distinction while emphasizing the team’s present focus.

“It’s hard to say because all we can do is focus on the present. What the future holds, we have no idea and obviously the past is the past. What we can focus on is how we continue to get better and better each and every day. Everyone has to be available and everyone has to be ready to go. It’s hard to think about the future. It’s too hard to do when you got to live in the moment as much as you can.”

Why the No. 4 seed could matter for the Lakers

Even with that approach, the standings still shape the potential path. The Lakers are widely projected to face the Rockets in the first round, a matchup that could be more manageable compared to other scenarios. Houston’s physicality presents challenges, but it may still be preferable given Los Angeles’ recent history against certain Western Conference contenders.

A matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves would bring renewed concerns given past battles with Anthony Edwards and the problems his scoring bursts have created for Los Angeles. Meanwhile, sliding further down the bracket would raise the possibility of facing Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, a far more daunting scenario.

Will Luka Doncic play for the Lakers in the playoffs?

The Lakers’ situation is further complicated by health uncertainty. Without clarity on the availability of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, securing home-court advantage becomes even more valuable. Playing at home early in the series could help Los Angeles manage rotations and ease the burden on role players stepping into larger responsibilities.

Ultimately, James’ comments reflect a team trying to stay grounded while the stakes rise. The Lakers still control their path, and two wins would likely secure the No. 4 seed and a first-round meeting with Houston. Whether shorthanded or at full strength, the difference between hosting and traveling could play a meaningful role in how far they advance.