Getty
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic
It’s possible that the Lakers will get star guard Luka Doncic back on Thursday, in time for the team’s first-half finale against the Mavericks. Of course, Doncic would very much like to return to play Dallas, the team that traded him a little more than a year ago, even if the game is in Los Angeles. But barring, that, Doncic could suit up for the All-Star game this weekend.
Or not.
Though the Lakers know they got lucky when it was revealed that the injury Doncic suffered back on February 5 against the Sixers was only a mild hamstring injury, the team also knows that this is all new ground for Doncic. Though he has been dinged by injuries throughout his career, he’s never had a hamstring injury before now, so navigating this rehab has been a new experience for him.
And because hamstring injuries are inherently difficult to manage, the Lakers are braced for the idea that Doncic could be back the next time the Lakers take the floor, or could need more time to heal up even after the All-Star game is over.
Luka Doncic Playing 5-on-5
Doncic did take a step toward a return to the Lakers this week, and that was encouraging.
Here’s what ESPN beat writer Dave McMenamin said about the Doncic situation this week, explaining his progress and his uncertainty:
“The Lakers have been encouraged that it’s only a mild hamstring strain, but Luka’s never dealt with a hamstring injury before in his eight-year NBA career, and so this has been a bit of a different rehab for him,” McMenamin explained. “He ran yesterday, he has been cleared for five-on-five with contact today.
“And so Thursday against his former team the Mavericks is not out of the question. He certainly has some motivation to get back on the court in time to play in the All-Star game this weekend, he was the leading vote-getter. That’s the first time that’s happened in his career. But that’s TBD.”
Lakers Sit All 5 Starters on Tuesday
The Lakers, meanwhile, could use a win on Thursday. The team played without both Doncic and star forward LeBron James–and three other starters–against the Spurs on Tuesday and were clobbered, 136-108, after falling to the Thunder on Monday in a game that OKC played without leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
L.A. took some heat for their decision to rest all five starters, but in the case of Doncic, there was at least a legitimate reason. As coach JJ Redick said, “Luka continues to progress.”
Austin Reaves did not play because he is still returning from a calf injury and is not ready for back-to-backs. James said earlier this season that he is a permanent TBD in back-to-backs. “Just depends on how he wakes up the next day and as he goes through his treatment in the morning,” Redick said. “But we ruled him out.”
The two straight losses drop the Lakers to 32-21, fifth in the Western Conference in a virtual tie with the Timberwolves. The Top 7 in the West is tightening up, and the Lakers have only a half-game lead over the Suns, the team that is currently the first into the play-in tournament.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
More Heavy on Lakers
Loading more stories