Luka Doncic was forced to leave the Los Angeles Lakers heavy defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder after suffering a left hamstring strain.
The injury occurred during the third quarter of a one-sided 139-96 loss, with Doncic visibly in discomfort before being helped off the court. He will undergo an MRI to assess the severity of the issue.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed the initial diagnosis after the game, while teammate LeBron James expressed his concern over the timing of the setback.
“At this point, at this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see,” James said. “When you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury. So, pray for the best, for sure, and a speedy recovery.”
MVP implications
Doncic initially appeared to tweak the hamstring late in the first half before aggravating it in the third quarter, eventually leaving the game with 12 points, seven assists and six turnovers in a difficult outing.
The defeat also carried wider implications. With just five regular-season games remaining, the injury could impact Doncic’s eligibility for the NBA’s end-of-season awards, including the MVP race, where he has been competing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Players must feature in at least 65 games to qualify, and Doncic’s appearance in this match brought him to 64 for the season, leaving little margin for further absence.
Despite the setback, Los Angeles have already secured a postseason place, giving Doncic a window to recover if the injury proves short-term.
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