NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist 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 suffered the injury 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 shorthanded Lakers upset the Houston Rockets in the opening game of their first-round Western Conference series on Saturday. Ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday, 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 Pakinomist
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives the ball upcourt during the second half against the Washington Wizards in Los Angeles on March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)
Reaves, who was diagnosed with a strained strain, appears headed for a return later in the first-round series if it stretches to six or seven games. If the Lakers advance sooner, he could be on track to return to the Western Conference semifinals.
According to ESPN, Reaves recently returned to the practice field for 1-on-1 drills. The 27-year-old still needs to progress to 2-on-3 and then 5-on-5 work before he can be cleared for playoff action, but he appears significantly further forward 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 in the first round, regardless of the length of the series. ESPN footage showed him on the practice field Tuesday, though the six-time All-Star wasn’t doing high-intensity work.
2025-26 NBA PLAYOFF ODDS: SPREADS, LINES FOR FIRST ROUND SERIES
The Rockets also struggled with key injuries, despite being widely favored in the opening round playoff series. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 with a knee contusion. He was cleared to play in 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 Pakinomist APP
LeBron James scored 19 points, while Luke Kennard led Los Angeles with 27 in Saturday’s win.
