The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, a series the team from LA reportedly wanted, considering their early exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves in last year’s postseason.
But still, even with their desired matchup, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Lakers to even get out of the first round without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. While LeBron James has been playing well in the absence of the two, oddsmakers and players around the NBA do not think Los Angeles will advance far in the playoffs.
Additionally, while a new Doncic update could signal his return to the Lakers sooner than anyone expected, the team is not expected to move past the first round against the Rockets.
Lakers Get Bad News On Playoffs, Series Vs Rockets
According to an anonymous NBA player poll from The Athletic, only 1.4% of 161 who participated predicted the Lakers will win the championship this season. They were the seventh-most picked team, but with just that 1.4% of the 161 players, that means Los Angeles just got two votes around the league to win the title.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are considered the team to beat, and for good reason.
Going off that, in a recent NBA Playoffs predictions article by ESPN, its a similar story for the Lakers chances against the Rockets in the first-round.
Per ESPN, the Lakers are +550 underdogs to win the series, along with having just a 1.1% chance to reach the Finals, and +2500 odds to win the championship.
While Los Angeles was playing well before the Doncic and Reaves injuries, and have maintained a solid form since, it still feels like the series against Houston will be an uphill battle.
Insiders from The Athletic predicted the Rockets to beat the Lakers in either five or six games, as without the two leading scorers for the Southern California team, having any chance of advancing past the first round is a tall task.
“Given the Lakers’ injuries, the Rockets have to win this series. They have no choice. If Dončić and Reaves don’t play at any point in this series, I think it’s a disaster if Houston allows this series to go beyond six games,” Will Guillory wrote.
Lakers vs Rockets might be billed as one of the most exciting series of the first round, but without Doncic and Reaves, there is a real chance of Kevin Durant and Houston taking an easy victory.
Lakers Get New Luka Doncic Update On Return
Doncic suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain in early April and is now in Europe seeking treatment for the injury and visiting his family in Slovenia.
While there was no reported timeline for a concern, a new update on the star signals he will at least be back with the Lakers sometime soon. According to the Epika news outlet, Doncic is expected to return to Los Angeles before the series against Houston begins.
“After a short break in Slovenia, Luka will soon return to Madrid for a new series of therapies,” the Slovenian outlet wrote. “From the Spanish capital, he will then fly to Los Angeles, where he is expected midweek or immediately upon entering his second half.”
Though Doncic is expected to be back on the bench for the Lakers, Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN also recently predicted the star could be coming back sooner than many expected, as the original expected recovery timeline didn’t hint at a return until at least a month out.
“From what I understand, there’s a chance Luka could come back later in the first round. He’s in Spain, he’s getting treatment every day. A lot of people on the team are talking to him every day,” she said earlier in the week. “Even if Luka is not able to make it all the way back in the first round, that does give them some hope. If they can extend the series one or two at home, maybe there’s a chance Luka comes back.”
For now, both Doncic and Reaves remain out, and it will be a tough task for a James-led Lakers team to find a victory over the Rockets in the first round, a series that begins on Saturday, April 18.
Lakers Get Bad News For Playoff Series Vs Rockets Amid Luka Doncic Update