The Los Angeles Lakers enter Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, facing growing concern about Luka Doncic’s availability. After dropping Game 1 by a 108-90 score, the Lakers remain without their leading scorer as he continues recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered in early April.
Doncic has already missed the entire first-round series against the Houston Rockets and remained sidelined for Tuesday’s opener against Oklahoma City. The Thunder took a 1-0 series lead despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring only 18 points and committing seven turnovers, exposing the Lakers’ offensive struggles without Doncic on the floor.
Ahead of Thursday’s Game 2, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said the Lakers are not expecting a quick return from the five-time All-Star.
Brian Windhorst Says Los Angeles Lakers Should Not Expect Luka Doncic Return Soon
GettyLuka Doncic greets Deandre Ayton during a timeout
Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Windhorst explained that the Lakers have approached the series with the understanding that Doncic is unlikely to return anytime soon.
“I mean, and by the way, like, I don’t think the Lakers have been under the delusion that he is going to come back,” Windhorst said. “I think they’ve gone into this series with Oklahoma City knowing he’s not going to be there.”
Windhorst added that conversations within the team should shift away from waiting for Doncic to return and instead focus on how the Lakers can compete without him.
“So basically what I would say is, because I feel like every single day here in L.A., people are asking me, when is Luka coming back? When is Luka coming back?” Windhorst said. “You can push that aside. Focus on what the Lakers have to try to piece together tonight in this series. Luka Doncic is not coming to the rescue.”
Doncic confirmed Wednesday that doctors initially gave him an eight-week recovery timeline after the injury. Game 2 arrives roughly five weeks after the strain occurred during an April 2 matchup against Oklahoma City.
“It’s very frustrating,” Doncic said. “I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball.”
The Lakers star also said he has started running again, but has not yet progressed to full-contact basketball activities.
“I’m just doing everything I can,” Doncic said. “Every day I’m doing stuff I’m supposed to do.”
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers continue evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis.
Lakers Continue Searching for Offense Against Oklahoma City Thunder
GettyOklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
Without Doncic, the Lakers struggled offensively throughout Game 1. Los Angeles scored only 90 points while shooting 41.2% from the field and committing 17 turnovers against the Thunder’s top-ranked defense.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting, but Austin Reaves managed only eight points on 3-for-16 shooting with four turnovers.
After the loss, James pointed directly to Doncic’s absence when discussing the Lakers’ offensive problems.
“We have a guy that averages 37 a game out,” James said. “There’s the issue right there.”
James added that Oklahoma City’s defense becomes even more difficult to handle without another elite playmaker alongside him.
“When you play against great defenses, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times,” James said. “I feel like we had great shots tonight, we missed them.”
Coach JJ Redick said before the series that Oklahoma City’s defense creates pressure unlike any other team in the league. The Thunder forced turnovers throughout Game 1 and converted many of those mistakes into transition opportunities.
The Lakers also continue monitoring Reaves’ conditioning after his recent return from a Grade 2 oblique strain. Reaves has struggled to regain rhythm offensively since returning during the Houston series.
“It’s been very tough just to sit and watch them play,” Doncic said of missing the postseason run. “But seeing what my team’s doing, I’m very proud of them.”
The Lakers now head into Game 2 trailing 0-1 in the series while facing uncertainty surrounding Doncic’s timetable. Based on the latest updates from Windhorst and the organization, Los Angeles appears focused on preparing for an extended stretch without its leading scorer rather than expecting an immediate return.
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