The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a significant injury scare during their 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
The defeat marked one of the heaviest in franchise history, but the focus quickly shifted to Luka Doncic, who exited the game due to injury.
The NBA’s leading scorer left the contest midway through the third quarter with a left hamstring issue.
Before exiting, Doncic recorded 12 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 25 minutes, shooting 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range.
Luka Doncic Set for MRI as Lakers Await Injury Clarity
Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed after the game that Doncic will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the severity of the injury.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion and the postseason approaching, concern is growing over the possibility of an extended absence.
NBA and NFL injury insider Dr. Evan Jeffries offered early insight, noting that the injury affects a familiar area for the Slovenian star.
“Luka Doncic seems to pull up because of his left hamstring,” Jeffries said shortly after the injury. “This is the SAME hamstring he hurt prior in the season. If it’s a strain timeline is dependent on severity.”
He added that a grade one strain could result in a one to two week absence.
However, a grade two strain could sideline Doncic for three to six weeks, potentially extending into the Lakers’ postseason.
Rotowire injury analyst Jeff Stotts also highlighted that Doncic missed four games earlier this season due to the same left hamstring issue.
He also sat out a game during the 2023-24 campaign with soreness in that area, raising further concern about a recurring problem.
JJ Redick Defends Decision as Injury Concerns Grow
In the aftermath of the injury, Redick has faced scrutiny, particularly given that Doncic appeared to show discomfort earlier in the game.
He was seen grabbing his hamstring in the first half, yet remained in the contest as the Lakers fell behind early.
With Los Angeles trailing 44-21 after the first quarter and the game quickly turning into a blowout, Doncic continued to play before eventually exiting.
“We checked him out, he got work done, but he was cleared,” Redick told reporters postgame, via Lakers Nation. “We’re not gonna put a player at risk. Those things happen.”
Doncic was not the only Lakers player dealing with an issue. Austin Reaves appeared to experience lower back discomfort during the first quarter.
He briefly exited late in the period to receive treatment before returning to the game.
“It was discussed at halftime,” Redick on if he considered sitting his stars at the half. “Thought we’d give those guys about six minutes and if we didn’t cut into the lead we were gonna pull them.”
“Obviously it was around that time, I don’t remember the exact time, [the injury] happened.”
Reaves went on to play 26 minutes, finishing with 15 points and four rebounds.
Following Doncic’s exit in the third quarter, the Lakers emptied their bench to avoid further injury concerns.
With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 50-27 and now sit just one game ahead of the Denver Nuggets for the third seed in a tightly contested Western Conference.
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