Watching the Los Angeles Lakers’ mistakes snowball into a hefty deficit, Luka Doncic couldn’t shake the stoned looked off his face.
Being sidelined for well over a month, it has to have gotten to a point where Doncic is feeling impatient. It’s brutal for a competitor like him to sit still on the bench when his team is clearly in need of him.
The Lakers hung around, poking jabs at the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first 2 ¾ quarters of Tuesday’s Game 1. Then the guys in blue showed why they are the defending NBA champions.
L.A. was dealt a convincing 18-point loss in the opening game of these semifinals.
With no set in stone return timeline for Doncic, who has been out since April 2 with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, things are starting to look bleak for the Lakers.
Los Angeles was dealt another injury blow to Jarred Vanderbilt. The Lakers forward suffered a fully dislocated finger in the second quarter of Game 1. A timetable on his return has not been announced.
With Game 2 in Oklahoma City and the Lakers staring down the reality of a 0-2 deficit, tough times are emerging for the purple and gold.
Insider Gives the Latest Scoop on Luka Doncic’s Potential Return
When oh when will he come back?
Last night, Doncic sat in the very arena not far from the very spot he suffered a potentially season-ending injury 34 days ago.
GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers brings the ball up court during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The initial return timeline was considered to be 4–6 weeks. By that designation, Doncic is still in the early stages of that window.
Can he come back now? Maybe. Is he ready to, though? Probably not.
In a question and answer session in a YouTube live stream, Lakers insider Jovan Buha was asked why Doncic is seemingly taking longer to return from a hamstring strain.
Buha suggested the Lakers could follow a similar approach with Doncic that they did with Austin Reaves, who was listed as questionable for multiple games before finally returning in Game 5 of the first round.
“If you look at the Austin timeline,” Buha began, “it took about a week from doing [ramp up activities] to return. … This series could be over quickly and if Luka’s not doing those things in the next few days, unless [there’s] a giant smokescreen from the Lakers and they’ve been forthright with what Luka’s doing behind the scenes, barring that, it’s becoming tougher to see him potentially returning in this series.”
Added Buha: “Maybe we get the Luka’s questionable tags at some point here in the next few games, but right now I would bet on him not returning.”
L.A. Dealt Bad Signs in Game 1 Loss
The loss should have convinced even the stubborn Lakers fans that this series is very much a long shot for their team.
Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who played a below standards game, stood courtside after the game and said in an interview his team was rusty despite winning by 18 points.
After the Lakers hung around for a while, the Thunder opened up a 19-point lead thanks to a flurry of 3-pointers by sharpshooting Jared McCain.
L.A. may have slowed down the reigning NBA MVP, but All-Star big man Chet Holmgren feasted, tallying 24 points, 12 rebounds and a handful of blocks.
With Oklahoma City predictably shaken by the long layover, Game 1 was the game L.A. needed.
The Lakers didn’t seize the opportunity.
Now it’s on to Game 2 back in Oklahoma City.
Lakers Insider Drops Luka Doncic Return Outlook After Game 1 Loss to OKC