OKLAHOMA CITY — Don’t rush back, Luka Doncic.
It’s not worth it. The Lakers can’t beat the defending champion Thunder. You can’t risk further injury.
Doncic spoke to the media Wednesdayfor the first time since suffering a strained hamstring on April 2. He said doctors initially told him he’d be sidelined eight weeks, which would coincide with the start of the NBA Finals.
He confirmed hewent to Spain for platelet-rich plasma injectionsto expedite his return.
“I’m working every day,” he said. “I feel better every day.”
TheLakers desperately need Doncic, who was the league’s best player last month, averaging 37.5 points a game while leading the Lakers on a 16-2 run.
The Lakers are facing the reigning champion Thunder in their second-round playoff series, trailing 1-0 after losing 108-90 on Tuesday. They need offense against the team’s historically great defense.
Doncic recently started running. He’s not yet doing contact drills. There’s no timeline for his return. Game 2 on Thursday is exactly five weeks after he suffered the injury.
Lakers fans are getting impatient. Rightfully so.
In Game 1, they watched the 41-year-old LeBron James play brilliantly, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep. They watched Marcus Smart bottle up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 18 points and seven turnovers, his fewest points and most turnovers this season. They saw Deandre Ayton play with force, grabbing 11 rebounds.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
