Lakers order MRI on Luka Doncic’s left hamstring after early exit in Oklahoma City
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The Los Angeles Lakers will conduct an MRI on Luka Doncic’s left hamstring Friday after the All-Star guard left Thursday night’s 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
Head coach JJ Redick told Spectrum SportsNet that medical staff cleared Doncic to start the second half even though the guard reported discomfort before intermission. “We checked him out. He got work done, but he was cleared. We’re not gonna put a player at risk,” Redick said.
Redick added that coaches discussed shelving Doncic and guard Austin Reaves at halftime because the Lakers trailed heavily and both were “banged up.” The plan was to give the pair “about six minutes” to cut into the deficit, Redick said. Doncic’s injury occurred shortly afterward.
The setback comes at a pivotal moment for the 27-year-old, who earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors in March after steering Los Angeles to a 15-2 record. His recent surge positioned him as a serious MVP candidate, but league rules require minimum games played to remain eligible for end-of-season awards.
Hamstring strains are prone to re-aggravation, raising the possibility that Los Angeles may keep its leading scorer sidelined beyond the regular season. The Lakers’ postseason hopes largely depend on Doncic, who spent last offseason improving his conditioning.
Despite the uncertainty, Redick maintained his public support for Doncic’s MVP bid. The coach said the guard “should be MVP” if the Lakers finish the schedule strong.
Los Angeles will await Friday’s imaging results before determining a timetable for Doncic’s return.
Source: LakersNation.com
