What was supposed to be a statement game for the Los Angeles Lakers quickly turned into a nightmare.
In a brutal 139-96 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the scoreboard wasn’t even the biggest concern by the end of the night. All eyes shifted to Luka Dončić, who exited in the third quarter after pulling up with a non-contact hamstring injury. He was in visible plan and moments later, the Lakers confirmed the worst: Dončić would not return.
How Luka Dončić’s Hamstring Injury Impacts the Lakers’ Playoff Push
The Lakers are running out of time at the worst possible moment.
They have just five games left in the regular season, and the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin on April 18, leaving only a short gap between the end of the season and Game 1. That means there is almost no recovery window for Dončić.
Dončić’s injury came during a loss to the Thunder when he first tweaked his left hamstring in the first quarter and then aggravated it in the third quarter while planting his leg on a drive. He immediately pulled up in pain and left the game. He will undergo an MRI to determine the severity, but the situation is already concerning.
And this isn’t just any injury; it’s the same left hamstring that had already bothered him earlier in the season, even forcing him to miss multiple games in February.
He had actually tweaked it in the first quarter but was cleared to continue playing, only for it to give out again in the third.
Luka Doncic seems to pull up because of his left hamstring
This is the SAME hamstring he hurt prior in the season. If it’s a strain timeline is dependent on severity
Grade I: 1-2 weeks
Grade II: 3-6 weeks pic.twitter.com/VdFWqz2snl
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 3, 2026
Now, with an MRI scheduled and no official severity update yet, the Lakers are left waiting and hoping. The timing couldn’t be worse.
A Grade I hamstring strain typically takes 1–2 weeks to recover, while a Grade II injury can take 3–6 weeks, which means even a slight increase in severity could push Dončić out of the opening playoff games.
MORE: Luka Dončić Injury Update: How Long Will the Lakers Star Be Out After Scary Moment vs. Thunder?
With only a handful of games remaining and the playoffs right around the corner, Dončić’s injury puts real pressure on Los Angeles. He has been the engine of the offense all season, averaging over 33 points per game and driving their push in the Western Conference. Now everything depends on how serious the strain is.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury and is out for the remainder of the regular season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2026
The Lakers also suffered another massive blow. As of April 4, Reaves is set to miss the remainder of the regular season. He has suffered a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury. The guard is set to miss four to six weeks of game time, and his status for the postseason remains in major question.
With the playoffs just two weeks away, the Lakers have lost two of their primary scoring options. It’s a massive blow for the team that relied on Reaves and Dončić all season long.
Now, the pressure mounts on James and Co., who have to make sure the Lakers don’t come crashing out of the playoffs. They will have to hold on until the pair returns to the floor, and that’s a big if.
