Lakers Breathe Big Sigh of Relief After Luka Doncic Injury News

The Los Angeles Lakers feared the worst in the third quarter of Thursday’s humiliating loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The scoreboard wasn’t remotely the reason why. Though, yes, that was scary, too. 

It was because star point guard Luka Doncic began hobbling before he drifted to the baseline as a pained expression reflected on his face. Something was clearly wrong, really wrong. 

On a night the Lakers effectively failed to even show up, the last thing they wanted was to leave the game with another injury. The team has already been down guard Marcus Smart the last several games. 

Losing Doncic to an injury of any severity at this time of year would feel cataclysmic. 

L.A. is still narrowly holding on to the third seed, but depending on the word the Lakers receive concerning Doncic’s injury, it could suddenly become much harder to maintain their position in the West without their best player. 

Los Angeles Lakers get encouraging early signs 

Doncic sustained what the team is officially calling a hamstring strain. Man, are those darn tricky to figure out. 

Coincidentally, when Doncic injured his hamstring, he was being guarded by Thunder wingman Jalen Williams, who faced two lengthy shutdowns this season after sustaining the very same injury. 

Lakers fans are hoping Doncic’s injury isn’t anywhere close to that severity. It sure feels like the season is hanging in the balance after the general gut-wrenching vibe of last night’s game. 

However, L.A. has already received a sign Doncic’s injury potentially isn’t anything major. 

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doncic traveled with the team to Dallas earlier today. The Lakers play the Mavericks on Sunday evening. 

Charania also reported Los Angeles is expecting Doncic’s MRI scan results today. 

Shams:

“Luka Doncic traveled with the Lakers to Dallas…I’m not gonna report on the results before I have them. Depending on the severity this can be measured potentially in weeks. The whole league is waiting on this specifically in the western conference” pic.twitter.com/NFCesPbA94

— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 3, 2026

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It is typical that a player doesn’t fly with the team to continue the road trip after sustaining an injury. That is not the case with Doncic, perhaps suggesting his bothered hamstring is more of a day-to-day thing. 

Boy, would that be an intense sigh of relief if that were the case.

For now, Lakers fans are still holding their breath as they hope for the best.

Even if Doncic is forced to miss some time…

L.A. fans don’t even want to begin imaging, but say Doncic gets ruled out the remainder of the regular season (there are five games left on the schedule).

That would give him until April 12 plus another week or so — the play-in tournament will play out April 14-17 — to rest and recover. The time off could be enough to get Doncic ready for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs.

Of course, that is if Doncic’s injury isn’t more severe like a Grade 2 or especially Grade 3 hamstring strain. 

The NBA playoffs are set to begin on April 18. If Doncic must sit out with injury until then, that gives him 16 days from the night he sustained the hamstring injury to ramp back up.

A proper diagnosis of Doncic’s injury, if any, is expected to be announced later today or tomorrow. 

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