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Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best duos in the NBA today.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the only team standing in the way of the Denver Nuggets’ highest possible seed in the Western Conference at this point.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder holding an 11.5-game lead in first, and the San Antonio Spurs having 9.0 games on the Nuggets, the third seed is the highest Denver could go. They are 0.5 games away from it.
Just as the regular season approaches the final week mark, the Lakers suffered two brutal injuries, which could have a massive benefit for the Nuggets.
Luka Doncic Goes Down
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul during the second half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
In the Lakers’ latest outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Doncic checked in for 25 minutes.
There were two instances where he was clearly bothered by a hamstring setback. The second one forced him out of the game. Doncic was later diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He won’t play again until the playoffs, at the earliest.
Doncic has been strong all year long, but has absolutely been surging as of late. In 64 games this season, Doncic posted averages of 33.5 points (NBA leader), 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds. He shot 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three.
Austin Reaves Hit With A Blow
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers calls a play during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Doncic setback wasn’t enough to hurt the Lakers. On Saturday, Austin Reaves received a diagnosis for his setback, and he is officially dealing with an oblique strain.
For Reaves, this marks his second notable setback this year. Similar to Doncic, Reaves’ regular season has concluded.
This year, Reaves has averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. He knocked down 36.0% of his threes, taking 6.4 attempts per game.
What’s Next For The Nuggets And The Lakers?
GettySALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 1: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets calls a play during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on April 1, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
The Lakers are paying a visit to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, April 5.
On paper, it’s a favorable matchup for the Lakers, as the Mavs are 24-35 on the season, losing their last three games. However, they aren’t in the business of tanking currently. So, the Lakers are getting a tough matchup as they lose multiple key players.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets are coming off a huge win. They now have eight victories in a row, after taking down the 59-19 Spurs on Saturday. Denver will return to the court on Monday, April 6 to take on the Portland Trail Blazers. By Tuesday, the third seed could have a new team taking over.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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