Charania: Luka Doncic expected to miss second round of NBA playoffs
TL;DR
Luka Doncic is expected to miss the second round of the NBA playoffs due to a slow recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. His progress remains limited, and there is currently no timetable for his return.
Key points
- Luka Doncic has a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
- Doncic is progressing slowly in his recovery.
- He is expected to miss the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers can advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs with one more victory in their first-round series against the Houston Rockets. They lost 115-96 in Game 4 on Sunday, and Game 5 will take place back home at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday evening.
They're hoping that Austin Reaves will be able to finally return from the oblique strain he sustained on April 2. However, Luka Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain that same evening, has been progressing much more slowly and isn't close to a return.
In fact, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania said on Tuesday that should the Lakers make it to the Western Conference semifinals, the expectation is that Doncic will miss that series.
"My understanding is it is a slow path on the recovery front for Luka. The expectation is if the Lakers are able to beat Houston and advance, Luka Dončić will be out for the next series. There's still no timetable for him as of right now. He's starting to do more court movement, as JJ Redick said the other day, but he is not at the point where he's progressing in his on-court workouts as far as one on ones and truly pushing it on a movement front."
The general timetable for a return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain is about four to six weeks. Six weeks from the day he suffered the injury would likely be very late in the second round of the playoffs, depending on the final schedule for that round.
If the Lakers do knock Houston out, they would face the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending world champions, in the second round of the playoffs. The Thunder won the regular-season series 4-0 against Los Angeles and just swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the postseason.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Charania: Luka Doncic expected to miss second round of NBA playoffs
Q&A
What injury is Luka Doncic recovering from?
Luka Doncic is recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
When is Luka Doncic expected to return to play?
Luka Doncic is expected to miss the second round of the NBA playoffs, with no specific timetable for his return.
How is the Lakers' playoff performance affected by Doncic's absence?
The Lakers are hoping to advance to the second round of the playoffs, but Doncic's absence could significantly impact their competition against the Houston Rockets.
