Luka Doncic will rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers by Friday after receiving specialized treatment in Europe for his Grade 2 hamstring strain, but there is no timetable for his return to the lineup. The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs starting Saturday, without Doncic and Austin Reaves, who is also sidelined with a Grade 2 oblique strain.
The Lakers (53-29) finished the regular season with three consecutive wins to secure home-court advantage, but they are underdogs against the Rockets, who are favored by 5.5 points in Game 1. Oddsmakers and analysts predict a Houston victory, with some predicting a sweep or a "gentleman's sweep" where the Lakers win one game.
Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring with 33.5 points per game, and Reaves, the team's second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, will miss the first round. LeBron James has stepped up in their absence, averaging 25.5 points, 11 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in the final week of the regular season. The Lakers will rely on contributions from players like Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, and Luke Kennard to compete against the Rockets' talent.
The Rockets, led by Kevin Durant, are seen as the stronger team defensively and offensively. Analysts warn that the Lakers' chances hinge on James' ability to elevate his game and the supporting cast playing beyond their usual levels. The series begins Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.