OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic exited Thursday’s 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder early because of a strained left hamstring and was ruled out.
Doncic will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the extent of the injury, a source familiar with Doncic’s situation told ESPN.
Doncic first appeared to tweak the hamstring late in the first half and then tweaked it again midway through the third quarter. Doncic planted his left leg while dribbling against the Thunder’s Jalen Williams when his hamstring seized, causing him to double over in pain and then lie down on the baseline with his hands covering his face when L.A. called timeout.
After teammates surrounded him to check on him, Doncic was able to walk to the Lakers’ locker room on his own, albeit gingerly, with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter and L.A. trailing 90-58. Doncic hung his head on his way off the court and pulled at the collar of his jersey, as if he were going to tear it off in frustration.
Doncic missed four games in February leading up to All-Star weekend because of a left hamstring strain and made only a token appearance in the All-Star Game while still rehabbing the injury.
Thursday’s injury ended what was already a nightmarish performance by Doncic, as he checked out with 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting (1-for-7 from 3), 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 turnovers.
The Lakers were outscored by 25 in the 26 minutes Doncic was on the court.
After a dream March during which the Lakers went 15-2 and Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Month for averaging 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game, the start to April was a major disappointment on several levels for L.A.
In what was billed as a late-season game that could sway MVP voters still deciding where to place Doncic and the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on their ballots, Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant, putting up 28 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and just 1 turnover while playing the first three quarters.
Depending on how much time Doncic has to miss going forward, Thursday might have cost him not only a shot at his first MVP, but even his eligibility for the award at all. The game was his 64th of the season, and players must play in 65 to qualify for season awards. The Lakers have five games remaining.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ potential as title contenders in the upcoming playoffs was called into question with a no-show against the defending NBA champs.
