The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for an extended period, as the two suffered injuries in the team’s recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Doncic injury, officially a grade two hamstring strain, was suffered early in the second half, coming after he was seen grabbing his leg in the first half. As for Reaves, he collided with a Thunder player and was seen holding his side for much of the game.
News emerged about Doncic’s injury status shortly after the game on Thursday, and while the Reaves injury news didn’t come out until Saturday, it’s a tough blow for a Lakers team that was one of the hottest in the NBA in March.
However, while Los Angeles is without its top two scorers, before their game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick dropped a concerning quote about the injuries of the two from his perspective.
JJ Redick Drops Concerning Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Injury Quotes
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Before the Lakers vs. Mavericks game on Sunday, Redick was asked about the injuries suffered for both Doncic and Reaves. His response raises some questions about how the team evaluated both after it was apparent they were laboring in the first half against the Thunder.
“I’ve been in those situations a million times, and as a coach, you go on the information you have,” Redick said about the medical evaluation of the two. “[Doncic] was medically cleared. When Austin came back, I asked directly, ‘I thought he was hurt?’ [I was told], ‘No, he’s medically cleared.'”
“As a coach, you go on the information you have. (Luka) was medically cleared. When Austin came back, I asked directly, ‘I thought he was hurt.’ (I was told): ‘No, he’s medically cleared.’”
Doncic is facing a hamstring injury and does not have a timeline for a return. For Reaves, it’s an oblique injury that is expected to see him miss four to six weeks, based on early injury updates.
Regardless, when asked about the chances of getting each back this season, Redick maintained that the Lakers’ goal is to see them each on the court again.
“Both those guys are going to try to come back, and it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back,” Redick added.
LeBron James has stepped up in the meantime for the Lakers, as was clear on Sunday in their loss to Dallas.
Lakers Closing Out The Regular Season Without Doncic, Reaves
GettyLeBron James shares his mindset after Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves injuries shake the Lakers’ lineup.
Doncic and Reaves have each been ruled out for at least the rest of the regular season, in which the Lakers now have four games remaining on their schedule.
Los Angeles is currently 50-28 and third in the West standings. They have the tiebreaker over the Denver Nuggets, currently holding the same record, but after a strong month of March, keeping that place in the standings remains a tough task.
However, as mentioned, much of the burden now falls on James for the time being.
It was evident on Sunday that, and seen throughout his career, leading the team came naturally for the 41-year-old. He finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists as the Lakers fell after mounting a strong comeback against the Mavericks.
Additionally, Redick said that the Lakers were going to experiment with different lineups, elevating other players in ball-handling and playmaking roles while Doncic and Reaves recover.
“There’s a chance we call other guys up this week to help us finish the regular season. We’re just taking it day by day like we have all year,” he said, per Benjamin Royer.
It will be tough sledding for the Lakers to close out the regular season, and to have any chance to advance in the postseason with nearly 60 points per game now injured for the time being.
Lakers’ JJ Redick Reveals Concerning Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Injury News