NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
In early April, with just five games remaining in the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that star guard Luka Doncic would be sidelined at least until the NBA playoffs.
Doncic’s setback was a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, an MRI confirmed. The reigning NBA scoring champion was injured during an April 2 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers also entered the playoffs without another key member of their backcourt, Austin Reaves.
The short-handed Lakers upset the Houston Rockets in the opener of their Western Conference first-round series on Saturday. Ahead of Tuesday’s Game 2, the Lakers reportedly received a clearer update on the health of at least one of their injured stars.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Lakers guard Austin Reaves brings the ball up the court during the second half against the Washington Wizards in Los Angeles on March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)
Reaves, who was diagnosed with an oblique strain, appears to be progressing toward a return later in the first-round series if it extends to six or seven games. If the Lakers advance early, he could be on track to return to the Western Conference semifinals.
According to ESPN, Reaves recently returned to the practice field for one-on-one drills. The 27-year-old will still have to progress to 2-on-3 and then 5-on-5 work before he can be cleared for the playoffs, but he appears significantly further along than Doncic, who remains out indefinitely.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Doncic is unlikely to play the first round, no matter how long the series lasts. Footage from ESPN showed him on the practice field Tuesday, although the six-time All-Star wasn’t doing high-intensity work.
2025-26 NBA PLAYOFF ODDS: SPREADS, FIRST ROUND SERIES LINES
The Rockets, despite being heavily favored in the first round of the playoffs, have also been dealing with significant injuries. Kevin Durant missed the first game with a bruised knee. He was cleared to play Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers players Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart during the second half of Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on April 18, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
LeBron James scored 19 points, while Luke Kennard led Los Angeles with 27 in Saturday’s victory.
