Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers is currently sidelined with a grade 2 hamstring strain and will miss at least the start of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
Doncic suffered the hamstring strain on April 2, in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it has since kept him out for more than two weeks. It remains uncertain when the Slovenian star will return for the Lakers, but there is still a chance he could get back on the court if Los Angeles can extend their series against Houston.
Here’s everything we know about Doncic’s injury and return timeline for the Lakers.
When Is Luka Doncic Coming Back For The Lakers? Latest Injury Return Timeline News
GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Doncic will not play in Game 1 of the Lakers vs Rockets first-round playoff series. He was reported to return to Los Angeles on Friday, but according to head coach JJ Redick, he is currently ‘out indefinitely‘ and will be re-evaluated sometime next week, as is the case with his co-star, Austin Reaves, who is currently dealing with an oblique strain.
According to a report by The Athletic, looking back on other NBA players who suffered hamstring strains this year, the typical return timeline is about 40 days, with a high chance of re-injury after coming back.
The Athletic’s article did say that three to six weeks could be a possible injury return timeline for Doncic, but it is by no means a guarantee.
“Recent NBA history offers more reason for Dončić and the Lakers to be discouraged instead of optimistic. Around the league, comparable injuries have followed a pattern: initial absences in the three- to six-week range, followed by a heightened risk of reinjury,” they wrote.
However, Doncic did recently travel to Spain to seek additional treatment, so there is hope for the Lakers that he could speed up his recovery process and potentially get back on the court sooner than initially thought. Still, until an official injury update is given, that remains to be seen.
“And as they prepare for it, sources told ESPN they have no expectation of having either Doncic or Reaves back at any point in the first round. But they also have not completely ruled out the possibility of one or both of them becoming available the longer the series lasts,” Dave McMenamin wrote for ESPN.
Can Luka Doncic Return In The Lakers vs Rockets Playoff Series?
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 25: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after a basket against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Based on what history says, Doncic could very well miss the entire first round, even if it goes to a Game 7.
However, if that three-week return timeline does end up being a realistic one for Doncic, there is the chance that he could come back in the latter half of the series, if Los Angeles can extend their first-round matchup against Houston.
Game 4 would come on April 26, which would be three and a half weeks after his injury. Still, Game 6 or 7 feels like a more likely return date, should Doncic end up be cleared. Those games would come just about a month after he originally went down with the hamstring strain in early April.
Hamstring injuries are serious, so even if Doncic feels like he can get back on the court, the chance of him going down again is high.
If the Lakers are down in the series, his return could come back to give them a boost, but just as that comes with a risk of re-injury, it also doesn’t guarantee a series win.
The Lakers are not favored or predicted to beat the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and as Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said, “How much do you want to risk in a situation like this?”
For now, Doncic and Reaves remain sidelined for the time being. Any potential return timeline or injury updates have yet to be announced, and likely won’t come until around Game 2 or 3 of the Lakers vs Rockets series.
The playoffs begin for Los Angeles when they tip off against Houston on Saturday, April 18, at 5:30 pm PST, with Game 1 live on ABC.
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