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When Will Luka Doncic Return? Latest on Hamstring Injury for Lakers-Rockets Series
TL;DR
Luka Doncic is expected to miss the entire first round of the playoffs due to a hamstring injury sustained in early April. The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Houston Rockets without him starting Saturday night.
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The Los Angeles Lakers are set to begin the playoffs on Saturday night against the Houston Rockets, but an early-April injury to Luka Doncic has the superstar point guard expected to miss the entire first round.
I break down the latest Luka Doncic odds and how the injury subsequently affects the Lakers’ NBA odds, which have taken a tumble as a result.
How we got here
Despite the Los Angeles Lakers catching fire following the All-Star break — including a 16-2 run in February and March — things came to a crashing halt on April 2, as Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in the third quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Prior to the injury, Doncic was absolutely stuffing the stat sheet, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per contest.
Treatment plan
Doncic returned from Spain on Tuesday after undergoing regenerative therapy, which reportedly included stem cell injections.
Still, cutting a potential return timeline from 4–6 weeks down to 3–4 weeks would still sideline Doncic for the entire round against Houston, as even if the series went the distance, a potential Game 7 would fall well before that timeframe.
LA, we have a problem
Lakers head coach J.J. Redick addressed the media on Monday, giving the latest update on the injuries to both Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.
Despite having home-court advantage for Round 1, the Lakers are listed at +450 to win the series against Houston at bet365, and they have fallen all the way to +15000 to win the NBA Finals.
The Luka-less Lakers are currently listed as 5.5-point underdogs ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against Houston.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Q&A
What is the status of Luka Doncic's hamstring injury?
Luka Doncic is expected to miss the entire first round of the playoffs due to his hamstring injury.
How does Luka Doncic's injury affect the Lakers' playoff chances?
The Lakers' NBA odds have decreased as a result of Luka Doncic's injury, impacting their playoff prospects.
When do the Lakers play the Rockets in the playoffs?
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to begin their playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.