All-Star guard Luka Doncic won’t suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
And Doncic may not be needed in a possible Game 5, either, considering how well LeBron James and Co. have fared without their leading scorer.
With the Lakers on the brink of advancing to the second round, there’s no longer undue pressure on Doncic to rush his return from injury. The Slovenian was expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks after sustaining a grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2. For what it’s worth, Game 5 (if necessary) on April 29 would be one day shy of the four-week mark.
Luka Doncic Injury Update
So, where does Doncic stand in his rehab process?
In the lead-up to Sunday’s Lakers vs. Rockets Game 4, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Doncic had yet to begin even 1-on-1 workouts, suggesting the 6-time All-Star was nowhere near a return to game action.
The Lakers reportedly plan to be very cautious about Luka Doncic’s return, given his recent injury history and the risks of a premature return.
“While a grade 2 hamstring strain on average has a month-long recovery process….You have to consider that he already hurt his hamstring earlier in the season and has had calf injuries in the past,” McMenamin said on the “Howdy Partners” podcast this week.
“If there’s a kinetic chain, if the hamstring gets messed up, it can lead to calf [issues] down the line. And the calf can lead to the worst injury [Achilles] in basketball.”
Luka Doncic Return Timeline
The second round of the NBA playoffs is expected to start around May 4-5, but could be moved up if teams advance more quickly in the first round.
There’s a strong chance the Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) — on a collision course in the second round — could sweep their first-round opponents. In that scenario, their series could begin as early as May 2-3.
Austin Rivers, who began one-on-one workouts earlier this week, has progressed quickly and is now on the verge of a return. The Lakers would hope Doncic can make similar progress and perhaps be ready for the matchup against the mighty Thunder.
Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha has predicted that Doncic will return for either Game 1 or Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
“If I had to guess, I would say Game 1 or Game 2 of the second round,” Buha said. “But it’s a fluid situation that could change dramatically overnight.”
With or without Doncic, the Lakers will enter the presumed second-round series against the Thunder as heavy underdogs. However, Doncic’s return will boost the Lakers’ chances and likely lead to a longer series.
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