Lakers star Luka Doncic will travel to Europe to undergo specialized treatment on his Grade 2 left hamstring strain, his agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.
Doncic made the decision after consulting with team doctors and his personal medical staff following Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City. While Grade 2 hamstring injuries typically require about a month of recovery, Duffy said Doncic is aiming to return during the playoffs.
That goal is shared by Austin Reaves, who is expected to miss several weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain.
“Both those guys are going to try to come back,” head coach JJ Redick said. “And it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back.”
The Lakers began adjusting to life without both players in Sunday’s loss to Dallas, a game that reflected the team’s current instability. Multiple new lineup combinations were used, including units that had not previously played together this season.
LeBron James led the way with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, but emphasized the need for defensive improvement.
“In order for us to play to the capabilities that we want to play at, it’s going to be on the defensive end,” James said.
Despite the loss, Los Angeles showed some offensive cohesion, recording 36 assists while getting contributions across the roster.
“The burden’s not going to just be on LeBron to create all the offense,” Redick said. “All hands on deck.”
The Lakers remain in the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with four games to play, but their ability to contend will likely depend on whether Doncic and Reaves can return during the postseason.
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