Reaves and Luka Doncic Out for Start of NBA Playoffs

Lakers’ Playoff Hopes Jeopardized as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves Sidelined

The Los Angeles Lakers’ momentum has come to a screeching halt. After a dominant March where the team went 15-2 and looked like a legitimate championship contender, a devastating 24-hour window of injuries has stripped the roster of its two leading scorers. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are both ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, leaving a massive void in the lineup as the team prepares for the NBA playoffs.

The Injury Breakdown: Dončić and Reaves Out

The crisis began during Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Luka Dončić was forced to depart the game early due to a hamstring injury. By Friday, the team confirmed that a grade 2 hamstring strain would keep the player-of-the-month sidelined for the rest of the regular season.

The situation worsened on Saturday when the Lakers announced that guard Austin Reaves would also miss the remainder of the regular season. Reaves is nursing a Grade 2 oblique strain. Although Reaves initially returned to the game against the Thunder after tweaking his left side, a subsequent MRI confirmed the severity of the injury. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks, which likely means he will miss the entire first round of the playoffs.

Imaging Errors and Coaching Frustration

The road to the diagnosis was not without controversy. Head coach JJ Redick revealed that Reaves had to undergo two separate MRIs because the first scan was performed incorrectly. Redick specifically called out the imaging process, stating, “I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area.”

Playoff Implications and the Burden on LeBron James

Heading into April, the Lakers managed to hold onto the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Yet, their cushion is slim; they currently sit just a half-game ahead of the Denver Nuggets and four games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 6 spot with only five games remaining in the regular season.

With the playoffs set to start on April 18, the Lakers face a daunting reality. Without their two primary scoring threats, the offensive burden falls heavily on 41-year-old LeBron James. James will be required to handle a level of scoring and playmaking responsibility not seen since the pre-Anthony Davis era. This physical toll is particularly concerning if the Lakers face a high-athleticism team like the Timberwolves in the first round—a matchup that previously resulted in a “gentleman’s sweep” of the Lakers in the 2025 playoffs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves return for the first round?

Multiple sources indicate that both players are expected to miss the first round of the playoffs due to the severity of their respective grade 2 strains.

How did the injuries happen?

Both players suffered their injuries during the Thursday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Who will lead the Lakers’ offense in the playoffs?

LeBron James will take on a significantly larger role in scoring and playmaking to compensate for the absence of the team’s two leading scorers.

Conclusion: A Precarious Path Forward

The Lakers have transitioned from the peak of confidence in March to a state of emergency in April. While their seeding remains strong for now, the loss of Dončić and Reaves transforms their postseason outlook from a quest for a title to a fight for survival in the first round. The health and endurance of LeBron James will be the deciding factor in whether Los Angeles can navigate this crisis.