“[Doncic] has the shorter projected timetable. … He obviously went to Spain to get some treatment, and they’re hoping that that could shave off a few days or maybe even up to a week. So, between the two, yes, Luka is expected back first.”<\/p>\n
Buha did add that Doncic’s hamstring injury<\/a> is the trickier of the two injuries to manage, by comparison to Reaves’ oblique strain. Realistically, the Lakers would be happy to get either in their first-round matchup<\/a>. Neither will truly be at 100 percent either. However, getting even an imperfect version of Doncic back could be enough to swing the series against the Rockets.<\/p>\n Luka Doncic would be welcomed back like a hero by the Lakers<\/p>\n The reported stance of the Lakers<\/a> on the situation is they will not expect either of their stars to appear in this matchup. However, they are not ruling out that possibility in an extended series.<\/p>\n One thing is immediately working in the Lakers’ favor of potentially seeing Doncic suit up in the later games of the first-round head-to-head \u2014 the NBA quietly extended how long<\/a> this series would go. There are notably three two-day breaks in between games.<\/p>\n The gap from Game 1 to 2 will have two days off for the Lakers. It will be the same case for the break between Game 2 to 3, and from Game 4 to a possible Game 5. Those little details matter.<\/p>\n Two weeks have already passed from the initial date of Doncic’s exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 5 on April 29 would be approaching the four-week mark since Luka’s injury. If the thought of shaving a day or week off is taken at face value, and the Lakers get the most optimistic version of events, this could reasonably put Doncic in the lineup by then.<\/p>\n
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