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The Los Angeles Lakers started the 2026 NBA Playoffs on a strong note with a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, thanks in large part to a 19-point, 13-assist, eight-assist effort from LeBron James and a 27-point spark from Luke Kennard.
It was exactly the kind of game that the Lakers needed to play, and it’s one that they’ll have to continue to replicate in the first round without the presence of Luka Doncic.
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Doncic has been out since April 2 with a grade 2 left hamstring strain, sustaining the injury late in the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After undergoing an MRI, Doncic was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Before going down, Doncic was playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. Despite finishing outside of the top three in NBA MVP voting, Doncic is still in line to receive All-NBA honors.
Doncic returned to the team on Friday ahead of Game 1 after undergoing an injection procedure in his left hamstring in an attempt to accelerate his return from the usual 4-6 timeline, but as of Tuesday morning, an update on Doncic’s status remains to be seen.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters last week, referring to both Doncic and Austin Reaves. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week. They’re out indefinitely.”
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As of Tuesday, it looks like the most likely scenario is that Doncic will not return to the floor until at least the second round if the Lakers advance.
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Luka Dončić carries the physical toll of a demanding season
Luka Dončić carried a heavy workload throughout the season, often playing through physical challenges as the wear of the schedule accumulated.
Now sidelined for the remainder of the regular season, these images reflect moments when the strain of the year was visible as Dončić worked through injuries while leading his team.
Above, Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench at the end of the third quarter against…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/luka-doncic-playing-lakers-game-120256837.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-21 12:02:00
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