![\"Luka](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2267327558-e1777137853877.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Luka Don\u010di\u0107 reacts during a Lakers game against the Rockets as Los Angeles builds momentum in their playoff series.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> may be dominating their first-round series \u2014 but the biggest development could still be ahead.<\/p>\n Lakers Insider Predicts Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Early Second-Round Return<\/p>\n Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha believes Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> could return sooner than expected \u2014 just not in the current series.<\/p>\n Speaking on his Buha\u2019s Block podcast, Buha projected that Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s comeback could come in the early second round.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I had to guess, I would say Game 1 or Game 2 of the second round,\u201d Buha said<\/a>. \u201cBut it\u2019s a fluid situation that could change dramatically overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n Cautious Approach With Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Injury<\/p>\n Don\u010di\u0107 has been sidelined since April 2 with a hamstring injury and has yet to make his debut in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets<\/a>. But he\u2019s making his presence felt<\/a> on the sidelines.<\/p>\n Unlike Austin Reaves<\/a> \u2014 who was given a clear four-to-six-week timeline for his oblique injury \u2014 the Lakers have not provided a firm return window for Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n That uncertainty, Buha noted, is intentional.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Luka, they have not given a timetable, so that has been open-ended,\u201d Buha said.<\/p>\n 3-0 Lead Removes Urgency for Los Angeles<\/p>\n The Lakers\u2019 unexpected 3-0 lead has dramatically shifted the timeline.<\/p>\n Buha emphasized that there is no incentive to rush Don\u010di\u0107 back while the team remains in control.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re up 3-0 in the series, there\u2019s no reason to bring Luka back in this series,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Los Angeles is now one win away from advancing, and history is firmly on its side. Teams holding a 3-0 series lead are a perfect 159-0 in NBA<\/a> playoff history.<\/p>\n Lakers Prioritize Rest Ahead of Potential Thunder Matchup<\/p>\n Instead, the focus has shifted toward ensuring Don\u010di\u0107 is fully healthy for the next round.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the goal should be to close out this series without Luka, buy him some more time, buy him some more rest,\u201d Buha said.<\/p>\n If the Lakers advance, they are expected to face the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n That potential matchup adds even more importance to Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s recovery timeline.<\/p>\n Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Recovery Progress Continues<\/p>\n Don\u010di\u0107 has traveled to Europe to undergo specialized treatment aimed at accelerating his recovery.<\/p>\n Lakers coach JJ Redick<\/a> previously said the superstar is expected to begin his return-to-play progression soon, though no firm date has been set.<\/p>\n The team\u2019s cautious approach reflects both the severity of hamstring injuries and the stakes of a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n Lakers Could Benefit From Thunder Injury Situation<\/p>\n The timeline could also work in Los Angeles\u2019 favor depending on developments elsewhere in the bracket.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania, Jalen Williams<\/a> of the\u00a0Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> has sustained a hamstring strain that will sideline him for a significant time.<\/p>\n \u201cThunder\u2019s Jalen Williams has sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis,\u201d\u00a0Charania reported<\/a>\u00a0on X.<\/p>\n A prolonged series between Oklahoma City and the Phoenix Suns<\/a> would give Don\u010di\u0107 additional recovery time before a potential second-round matchup.<\/p>\n Lakers Closing In on Next Stage<\/p>\n With Game 4 looming in Houston, the Lakers are on the verge of advancing without their top scorer.<\/p>\n And if Buha\u2019s projection holds, Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s return could arrive just as the stakes rise \u2014 giving Los Angeles a potential boost at the perfect time.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAlder Almo<\/a> is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Luka Don\u010di\u0107 reacts during a Lakers game against the Rockets as Los Angeles builds momentum in their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":717895,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3790],"tags":[7,4034,1698,300,4044,251,150,4033,4043,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-717894","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-lakers","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-la","10":"tag-la-lakers","11":"tag-lakers","12":"tag-lalakers","13":"tag-los-angeles","14":"tag-los-angeles-lakers","15":"tag-losangeles","16":"tag-losangeleslakers","17":"tag-nba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116466643665826412","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=717894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/717895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=717894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=717894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=717894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}