The NBA’s leading scorer will he relegated to the bench to start the next round of the playoffs.
In a decision that shocked nobody, Lakers starLuka Doncic will miss at least Game 1of the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder. He has beenruled out by Los Angeles.
When asked about the status of his star guard, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, Lakers coach JJ Redick kept it blunt, “I don’t have any updates on Luka.”
Doncic has already passed the one-month mark sincesuffering a Grade 2 hamstring strainon April 2 against the Thunder.
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After traveling to Spain for advanced treatment aimed at accelerating recovery, Doncic’s progression has been less than ideal. He’s done controlled on-court work with shooting and light movement, but has yet to progress to running or physical on-court work.
“Obviously, we always want to have Luka out there,” said teammate Austin Reaves on Sunday. “He’s one of the best players in the league, if not the best player. It’s definitely a different task. Everyone has to play differently to create and fill the void of the things he does for us.”
"I don't have any updates on Luka" – JJ Redick's response when asked about Luka Doncic's availability for tomorrow's Game 1 in OKChttps://t.co/gKiTtM63lw
Sources told The California Postthat Doncic is expected to miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series, clearing a return for a possible Game 3.
However, at this point in his recovery, returning to the series at any point — especially given Oklahoma City’s propensity for physical play — seems highly unlikely.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
