By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Going into the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, the hope was that the Los Angeles Lakers would be able to extend their run long enough so Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves could return from their respective injuries. The latter made his way during the opening round, but the Slovenian superstar remains sidelined.
The 27-year-old combo guard suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in early April, the same night as Reaves’ injury in a game that seemingly altered championship aspirations. Since then, there have only been tepid updates on Doncic’s status and lingering doubt over a potential return against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Although the Ljubljana native is making every effort to get back on the court, which included a visit to Spain for advanced medical treatment, the original timetable doesn’t line up well with the Lakers’ playoff hopes. “The day I did the MRI on the hamstring, the doctors told me eight weeks,” he told reporters after team practice in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, in his first comments since suffering the injury. “I’m doing everything I can in the process. I think we’re in a good way, but at the beginning they told me eight weeks.”
Game 2 on Thursday marks exactly five weeks since Doncic sustained his left hamstring injury. A potential Game 7 between the Lakers and Thunder is scheduled for May 18, which is three days shy of seven weeks. “I went to Spain to do PRP. Obviously, everybody knows that it’s one of the best countries to do that,” Doncic added. “And obviously, we talked with the Lakers’ doctors, everybody agreed for me to go there. Obviously, I know and trust a lot of people in Spain whom I used to work with before. But why I was in Spain so long was because I needed four days in between every shot. I did it four times, so that’s why I stayed longer.”
The original timeline suggests Doncic would be out until the end of May, meaning the Lakers would have to advance into the Western Conference Finals for a shot at his return. Even with that, he presumably would need to be eased into action under a minute restriction.
“It’s very frustrating,” noted the six-time All-Star. “I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is.”
“All I want to do is play basketball, especially at this time. It’s the best time to play basketball,” he furthered, referring to his side battling in the Playoffs. “It’s very frustrating. But to see what my teammates are doing, I’m very proud of them. But it’s been very tough just to see it and watch them play.”
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 1-0 (111-101)
6. New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 1-0 (137-98)
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 1-0 (108-90)
6. San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 (104-102)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions