Luka Doncic Hamstring Injury Threatens Lakers Playoff Push

Merlin sees a late-season scare in Los Angeles. Luka Dončić left Thursday’s win with a left hamstring injury and will get an MRI on Friday. He needs one more game to qualify for end-of-season awards and is averaging 33.8 points, 8.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds. Dončić had missed a handful of games earlier after what JJ Redick called a "sore hamstring" and only returned Feb. 20, so any setback now carries real stakes with five regular-season games left and the Lakers 50-26 in third place in the West. Merlin notes the Lakers have battled wear and tear all year — LeBron missed time with foot arthritis and Austin Reaves missed over a month with a calf issue — yet they have stayed competitive. If the MRI is minor, rest can protect playoff readiness; if not, load will shift quickly and the team’s late push could wobble. The oracle expects tension, not panic.