By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Sunday practice, head coach JJ Redick offered a blunt assessment of Luka Doncic’s status. “No update,” he said.
The brief statement confirmed that while the rest of the roster was available and active, the Slovenian superstar remains the sole outlier as the team prepares for the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
The 27-year-old guard is currently recovering from a left hamstring strain sustained in early April. Despite the successful first-round effort against the Houston Rockets, Doncic appears unlikely to return in the immediate future.
According to ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, the guard is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis and is set to miss the start of the best-of-seven series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show — new updates on Los Angeles Lakers‘ Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves‘ Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets‘ future: pic.twitter.com/MPjLnQoPUq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 3, 2026
Doncic has recently returned to the practice floor for light shooting and stationary movement, but has yet to progress to full-speed running or full-contact drills.
The Lakers are scheduled to play Game 1 against the top-seeded Thunder at Paycom Center on Tuesday.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers
6. New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers
6. San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions