DONČIĆ UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN SECOND ROUND IF LAKERS ADVANCE

Luka Dončić may remain sidelined if the Los Angeles Lakers move on to the second round of the playoffs.

According to the report, Dončić is not expected to be ready for a possible matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, should the Lakers eliminate the Houston Rockets. He has reportedly been out since April 2 due to a hamstring injury, with no clear return date yet.

ESPN’s Shams Charania described Dončić’s recovery as a slow process, suggesting the Lakers may need to prepare for the next round without one of their biggest stars.

Before the injury, Dončić had another elite regular season, averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists across 64 games. His performance is expected to keep him in strong position for another All-NBA First Team selection.