Luka Doncic Hamstring MRI Puts Lakers on Edge

Luka Dončić left Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City with a hamstring issue and will get an MRI on Friday, coach J.J. Redick said. LeBron urged the team to "pray for the best" after the exit, and staff had "cleared" him to return before he was removed. With five regular season games left and a tight scramble for seeding, Dončić’s health could change the Lakers’ playoff path. Merlin sees warning signs. This is Luka’s second hamstring problem in two months and it ended a streak of 13 straight 30 point starts, so even a short absence matters. The Lakers hold key tiebreakers and face a manageable close slate, but a cautious approach could flip matchups and momentum in the West.