The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for a pivotal Game 2 at home against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers snatched early series momentum by winning Game 1 behind wonderful performances by LeBron James and Luke Kennard. Both players combined for 46 points, and Kennard hit all five of his 3-pointers.
Watching from the sidelines were injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both of whom suffered Grade 2 strains in the Lakers’ blowout loss April 2 against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ever since then, Reaves has continued to rehab with the Lakers, but Doncic jetted across waters to Spain to seek specialized treatment on his hamstring.
Doncic, 27, was abroad for roughly two weeks to receive stem cell therapy and other treatments that are not available in the United States.
He returned to Los Angeles on Friday, April 17, and rejoined the Lakers shortly after. Doncic was seen seated on the team’s bench for the first time in the time he has been out with injury.
Recent reports have indicated Doncic has begun some light practice activities but still has some ways to go before he can fully ramp up.
Reaves, meanwhile, has been spotted this week shooting around during Lakers practice.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive New Development on Doncic, Reaves
It is safe to say Saturday’s Game 1 win was massive. The Lakers, though they played well on both ends, were assisted in the win by the absence of Rockets star Kevin Durant, who suffered a knee injury during team practice earlier this week.
Durant was a late-scratch leading up to Game 1. Ahead of tonight’s Game 2, Durant’s status remains uncertain, though the Rockets are optimistic the 37-year-old star will be in the lineup.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are desperately waiting for a stronger development on at least one of their injured stars.
On Tuesday, April 21, ESPN insider Shams Charania provided a new update on Doncic and Reaves and their respective return timelines.
“The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is the one that is further along than Luka Doncic in their respective rehab processes,” Charania said in an appearance on “NBA Today.” “I am told Austin Reaves has one-on-one on-court work. The next step is for him to continue to go through the progressions of three-on-three, five-on-five. Remember early April here, he had a 4-6 week timetable. Theoretically that puts him on track for early in this series, potentially next series.
“The Lakers are not expecting Luka Doncic to be back in this series; he is out indefinitely. But Austin Reaves [is] making some progress on the court.”
GettyLuka Doncic and Austin Reaves are expected to be out for the LA Lakers in their Round 1 clash against the Rockets.
Is the Door Shut on a Doncic Return in the First Round?
Unless Doncic makes unexpected progress this week, the indication is he’ll miss the entire first round, according to Charania’s report today.
Doncic is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, a notoriously tricky injury to manage. There have been multiple examples just this year of players who struggled to return from this very injury. The additional challenge tethered to hamstring strains is the re-injury risk, which is high.
For a player like Doncic who relies so much on lateral movement and rapid start and stop motions, it is especially imperative he receives all the time he needs to regain full strength and mobility in his hamstring.
Charania did, however, share a more positive update on Reaves.
After there was some initial belief that Reaves’ injury was more serious than Doncic’s, Charania’s report suggests the opposite. A return in the first round may be on the table for Reaves, who is dealing with an oblique strain.
For now, the Lakers are staring down a critical Game 2. Losing tonight could swing the momentum back in the Rockets’ favor as the series shifts to Houston. And that’s not where the Lakers want to be without their top two scorers.
Tip off from Crypto.com Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.
Lakers Receive Major Update on Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Before Game 2 vs Rockets