Luka Doncic Out Indefinitely With Hamstring Injury For Lakers

Luka Dončić will miss the rest of the regular season after the Lakers announced a Grade 2 left hamstring injury, suffered while pulling up over Jalen Williams. He exited that game after 12 points and had led the NBA at 33.8 points per game through 63 contests. The injury ends his eligibility for end of season awards and forces Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart into larger backcourt roles as Los Angeles fights for the No. 3 seed with five regular season games left and the playoffs looming April 18. Merlin sees a fragile crossroads. Dončić’s scoring and the chemistry with LeBron James have been the Lakers’ backbone, and rushing him risks a longer absence. Expect careful load management and a playoff-first mindset from the staff. If he returns, the Lakers will be tested on whether their late season rhythm survives without their beacon.