The Los Angeles Lakers face a critical Game 3 at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they will once again be without star guard Luka Doncic, who remains sidelined with a strained left hamstring. Doncic has now missed three consecutive playoff games, and the Lakers are down 0-2 in the series.
Doncic has not played in this postseason since sustaining the injury in early April. Earlier this week, he provided an update on his recovery progress, stating that an MRI initially indicated an eight-week timeline for recovery. “The doctor told me from the start it would take about eight weeks. I’m doing everything I can, and I think we’re on the right track. But that’s what he said at first,” Doncic explained. With several weeks still left in the original eight-week recovery window, Doncic emphasized that he follows his daily rehab regimen. “I do what I’m supposed to do every day—obviously rehab, and now I’m starting to do some training. I’m taking it day by day, and every day I feel a little better,” he added.
For the Lakers to have any chance of seeing Doncic return this postseason, they must extend the series by at least one or two more games. Without their All-Star guard, the team has lost both games so far and now faces elimination.
