Lakers Shocked Luka Doncic Hamstring Reaves Out

The Lakers were hit hard by injuries this week when Luka Doncic suffered a hamstring that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season and Austin Reaves went down with a season-ending oblique injury. LeBron called it "a shot to the heart and the chest and the mainframe with Luka," and the timing cuts into a team that had won 16 of 18 and relied on Doncic's huge March numbers and Reaves' career year. Merlin sees a fragile balance now. Los Angeles has a playoff spot but could slip in seeding and will ask LeBron to carry a heavier load while Doncic chases treatment in Europe. If Doncic returns, hope blooms. If not, the Lakers risk an early exit unless role players step up quickly.