The Los Angeles Lakers are pushing deeper into the postseason, however their largest query mark hasn’t modified, when will Luka Doncic return?
The celebrity guard continues to get well from a Grade 2 left hamstring pressure, and whereas progress is being made, his availability for the beginning of the second-round sequence in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder has already been dominated out.
“I’m instructed proper now, Luka Doncic can be out to start out this sequence in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported throughout a pregame section. “The Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week foundation with that Grade 2 hamstring pressure. So he’s missed a couple of month proper now. One supply instructed me in the previous couple of days, it’s nonetheless a sluggish path on Doncic’s restoration. He’s doing an increasing number of on the courtroom, however proper now nonetheless not full fledged working or full contact exercises.”
That replace paints a cautious image for Los Angeles, particularly given how essential Doncic has been to their success this season.
The crew closed the common season sturdy behind his scoring dominance, ending with 53 wins, however now faces a rested Thunder squad with out their major offensive engine.
For the Lakers, this example is about greater than only one sequence. Doncic battled hamstring points all year long, and the group seems unwilling to hurry him again into motion and threat long-term harm.
Even in a high-stakes playoff atmosphere, defending their franchise cornerstone stays the precedence.
There may be nonetheless a risk that Doncic might rejoin the lineup later within the sequence if Los Angeles can keep aggressive early. Nevertheless, in opposition to a Thunder crew coming off a sweep and coming into with important relaxation, that activity turns into more and more troublesome.
Regardless of the uncertainty, the Lakers’ postseason run thus far has already exceeded expectations in some respects.
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