All-world PG Luka Doncic hasn’t appeared in a game since April 2, as a hamstring ailment has held one of the game’s best players out of the lineup. With Lakers vs. Thunder Game 1 quickly approaching, could Doncic get back on the court this series?
Let’s break down the latest Luka Doncic injury update, when he could return for the Lakers, as well as which players to target in the Western Conference semifinals.
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Luka Doncic Injury Update: Will Doncic Play in NBA Playoffs vs. Thunder?
As the second round of the NBA Playoffs gets underway, Doncic remains listed as out on the official NBA injury report due to his Grade II left hamstring strain. Is a potential return on the horizon?
The answer is complicated. Should the Lakers win a game or two in their series and extend things, that’d naturally make Doncic’s outlook more positive. With that said, he’s expected to miss at least the early stages of the Western Conference semifinals.
On May 4, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported that there will be no Luka Magic in Games 1 or 2 of this series. Moreover, his status remains “week-to-week” as the Lakers “take a cautious approach.”
Just a day prior, Shams Charania of ESPN echoed that sentiment and added some additional details regarding the Doncic rehab process.
“One source told me in the last few days it’s still a slow path on Doncic’s recovery,” Charania said. “He’s doing more and more on the court but right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts.”
Doncic appeared in 64 regular-season games for the Lakers, leading the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points per contest. He also averaged 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, serving as one of the premier offensive hubs in the sport.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, its journey through the West playoffs will continue without Doncic for at least a couple more outings.
What Lakers Players to Target on PrizePicks With Doncic Out?
With Doncic still watching from the sideline, what is Los Angeles missing? Primarily some scoring punch. Per databallr, the Lakers' offense performed 6.4 points per 100 possessions better with Doncic on the floor compared to him off it in the regular season.
The good news for the Lake Show is that a pair of lead ballhandlers remain firmly entrenched in the lineup.
Superstar F LeBron James continues to defy the odds of age, having averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in the first round against the Houston Rockets. SG Austin Reaves also returned from his oblique strain to appear in two games, posting 18.5 PPG.
In minutes without Doncic this campaign (regular season and postseason), James’ usage rate spikes by 8.6% and he logs 4.7 more assists per 100 possessions. Reaves sees an even greater increase in usage (+13.1%) while pouring in 13.5 more points per 100.
The final contributor to keep an eye on is SG Luke Kennard, whose 50 combined points in Games 1 and 2 helped build a 2-0 series lead over Houston. Kennard’s 3-point percentage climbs from 40.8% with Doncic to 48.8% without him.
Here are the Lakers players who may benefit most on PrizePicks while Doncic remains out, as well as their stat projections for tonight.
- LeBron James vs. Thunder Projections: 20.5 Points / 7 Rebounds / 7.5 Assists
- Austin Reaves vs. Thunder Projections: 20.5 Points / 4 Rebounds / 5 Assists
- Luke Kennard vs. Thunder Projections: 7.5 Points / 2.5 Rebounds / 0.5 3-PT Made (Goblin)
Reaves and Kennard have been a bit volatile as of late, which could open the door for the 41-year-old James to continue shining on the NBA Playoff stage.
Pick More or Less Lakers player stats on PrizePicks now before the 8:30 p.m. ET tip.
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Luka Doncic isn’t quite yet ready to return from his hamstring injury for Los Angeles. Despite that, there are still plenty of player projections to choose from for the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
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