The Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of clinching a championship have taken a significant blow.
Luka Doncic, the NBA’s top scorer, will be sidelined for the rest of the regular season due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain in his left leg, as confirmed by the team on Friday.
His availability for the playoffs remains uncertain.
Doncic played a crucial role in propelling the Lakers to third in the Western Conference standings. However, his leg injury during a disappointing loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday overshadowed this progress, with an MRI revealing the extent of his condition.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick reported that Doncic sustained the injury in the first half but was initially cleared to return. Unfortunately, he could only play for about four minutes more before he spun and fell, clearly in pain, leading to his exit from the game.
The Lakers acquired Doncic in a notable trade in February 2025, sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick for the star player and two others. Many fans felt the deal heavily favored the Lakers.
As the Pacific Division champions (50-27), the Lakers have just five games left before the playoffs begin on Sunday in Dallas.
A Grade 2 hamstring injury can take several weeks to heal. Doncic has faced similar issues before, missing four games before the All-Star break due to another left hamstring strain, but he did return post-break.
In his first complete season with the Lakers, Doncic demonstrated extraordinary performance, averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game. He was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for March after achieving 13 straight 30-point games, which included seven games over 40 points. Notably, he had a streak of 51 points against Chicago and even scored 60 points in a game in Miami.
With a total of 600 points in March, Doncic became the 10th player in NBA history to achieve such a feat in a single month. While LeBron James and Austin Reeves have also excelled recently, Doncic has been a pivotal contributor, being involved in 58% of the Lakers’ scoring during March.
The Lakers’ final regular-season match is set for next Sunday, April 12, against Utah, with their playoff series commencing the following weekend.
