Luka Dončić ruled out a day of ahead of Lakers-Thunder Game 1

3 weeks ago 8

The Los Angeles Lakers ruled out Luka Dončić on Monday, a day before they play the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.

Dončić remains sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He missed the final six games of the regular season with the injury and the entirety of the Lakers’ first-round playoff win over Houston Rockets.

His availability moving forward against the Thunder remains unclear beyond Game 1. But being ruled out a day ahead of time is generally not a good sign of a quick return.

Luka Dončić in street clothes is becoming a familiar sight on the Lakers' bench.

Luka reportedly on ‘slow’ path to recovery

The Lakers won in Round 1 despite Dončić’s absence and Austin Reaves missing the first three games of the series. The Rockets were also playing shorthanded with Kevin Durant sidelined for five of the series’ six games.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday that Dončić remains on “a slow path” to recovery and hasn’t returned to full-contact workouts. He’s still considered week-to-week, per the report.

When asked on Sunday about Dončić’s availability for Game 1, Lakers coach JJ Redick said this: “I don't have any updates on Luka."

OKC a much stiffer test for Luka-less Lakers

For Game 1 and perhaps beyond, the Lakers will play without their All-NBA guard who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game alongside averages of 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals.

With Dončić sidelined against the Rockets, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart started all six games of the series. LeBron James carried the offensive load against the Rockets and continued to lead the Lakers in scoring even upon Reaves’ return.

Against a reigning champion Thunder team that led the league in defensive rating for a second straight season and swept the Lakers in the regular season, playing without Dončić will put the them at a heightened disadvantage.

Read Entire Article