Luka Doncic will travel to Europe for specialized care on his Grade 2 left hamstring strain, agent Bill Duffy told ESPN, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers without their star guard as the regular season winds down.
Duffy said the decision came after consultations with team physicians and Doncic’s personal medical team following Thursday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although a Grade 2 hamstring injury usually sidelines players for roughly one month, Doncic is targeting a return during the playoffs.
Reaves Facing Similar Timeline
Guard Austin Reaves is also expected to miss several weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Head coach JJ Redick stressed that both players are committed to rejoining the lineup in the postseason. “Both those guys are going to try to come back,” Redick said. “It’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back.”
Lineup in Flux
Los Angeles began adapting to life without Doncic and Reaves in Sunday’s 127–121 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Redick deployed several new lineup combinations, including units that had not shared the floor at any point this season.
LeBron Shoulders the Load
LeBron James finished with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds but emphasized that the Lakers must improve defensively. “In order for us to play to the capabilities that we want to play at, it’s going to be on the defensive end,” he said.
Despite the defensive lapses, the Lakers generated 36 assists and received contributions from across the roster. “The burden’s not going to just be on LeBron to create all the offense,” Redick noted. “All hands on deck.”
Playoff Positioning
With four games remaining, Los Angeles holds the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The club’s postseason prospects, however, could hinge on whether Doncic and Reaves are healthy enough to return.
Source: Hoops Wire
