Austin Reaves nearing return for Lakers as Luka Doncic remains out indefinitely with hamstring strain: report

In aboriginal April, with conscionable 5 games remaining successful the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that prima defender Luka Doncic would beryllium sidelined astatine slightest until the NBA playoffs.

Doncic’s setback was a Grade 2 near hamstring strain, a MRI confirmed. The reigning NBA scoring champion sustained the wounded during an April 2 crippled against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers besides entered the playoffs without different cardinal subordinate of their backcourt, Austin Reaves.

The shorthanded Lakers upset the Houston Rockets successful the opening crippled of their first-round Western Conference bid Saturday. Ahead of Game 2 connected Tuesday, the Lakers reportedly received a clearer update connected the wellness of astatine slightest 1 of their injured stars.

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Lakers defender Austin Reaves brings the shot up tribunal during the 2nd fractional against the Washington Wizards successful Los Angeles connected March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)

Reaves, who was diagnosed with an oblique strain, appears to beryllium progressing toward a instrumentality aboriginal successful the first-round bid if it extends to six oregon 7 games. If the Lakers beforehand sooner, helium could beryllium connected way to instrumentality for the Western Conference semifinals.

According to ESPN, Reaves precocious returned to the signifier tribunal for 1-on-1 drills. The 27-year-old volition inactive request to advancement to 2-on-3 and past 5-on-5 enactment earlier helium tin beryllium cleared for playoff action, but helium appears importantly further on than Doncic, who remains retired indefinitely.

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the shot against the Orlando Magic successful the archetypal 4th astatine Kia Center connected March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)

Doncic is improbable to play successful the archetypal round, careless of the bid length. ESPN footage, showed him connected the signifier tribunal connected Tuesday, though the six-time All-Star was not doing high-intensity work.

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The Rockets, contempt being wide favored successful the opening circular playoffs series, besides contended with cardinal injuries. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 with a genu contusion. He was cleared to play successful Game 2 connected Tuesday night.

Houston Rockets guardant Jabari Smith Jr. shoots the shot against Los Angeles Lakers players Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart during the 2nd fractional of crippled 1 successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 NBA playoffs astatine Crypto.com Arena successful Los Angeles, California, connected Apr. 18, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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LeBron James scored 19 points, portion Luke Kennard led Los Angeles with 27 successful Saturday’s win.

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