Doncic Goes to Spain for Hamstring Injection, Targets Playoff Return
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- Luka Doncic traveled to Spain on Monday to receive a hamstring injection after suffering a Grade 2 left left hamstring strain in Thursday's 134-96 loss to Oklahoma City, a decision made jointly with Lakers doctors and his own medical team.
- Bill Duffy, Doncic's agent, said the star is motivated to return during the playoffs, though Grade 2 hamstring strains typically require about a month of recovery.
- Austin Reaves is also sidelined with a Grade 2 left oblique injury expected to keep him out four to six weeks, prompting coach JJ Redick to tell reporters, 'it's our job to extend the season so that they can come back.'
- Redick defended keeping Doncic and Reaves in during a 30-plus-point third-quarter deficit Thursday, saying both were 'medically cleared' and the group 'wanted to go for it' at halftime.
- Cooper Flagg torched the short-handed Lakers for 45 points — 19 in the opening quarter — as Dallas shot 52.3% from the field and 43.8% from three in a 134-128 win.
- LeBron James posted 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, and Luke Kennard recorded his first career triple-double (15 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists) in a starting lineup that had never played together.
- The Lakers (50-28) remain in the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference, holding the tiebreaker over Denver (50-28) with four games left, and are locked into no worse than the No. 5 seed.
Why it matters: The Lakers' playoff viability now hinges on whether Doncic and Reaves — their two leading creators alongside James — can return from injuries that typically sideline players for a month or more. With four regular-season games left and both stars targeting a playoff comeback, Redick's short-handed rotation must simply survive long enough to extend the postseason runway.
