How Luka Doncic damage impacts Lakers’ NBA playoff situations
The Los Angeles Lakers, at the worst doable time, caught a dangerous break with their greatest star.
All-Star guard and Most Valuable Player candidate Luka Dončić, suffered what appeared to be a hamstring damage in a blowout loss against the Thunder on Thursday, April 2, doubtlessly placing his award eligibility – and the Lakers’ goals of a deep postseason run – in jeopardy.
Advertisement
Dončić is set to an endure an MRI to consider the severity of the damage.
Thursday evening’s recreation against Oklahoma City was his sixty fourth of the season, placing him one shy of the minimal required for consideration for MVP, All-NBA choice and other particular person honors. This means Dončić wants to play in at least one of Los Angeles’ remaining 5 video games to become eligible. Meanwhile, the Lakers are still battling for seeding in the Western Conference in the closing video games of the season.
Dončić completed the recreation with 12 factors on 3-of-10 taking pictures, including a sluggish 1-of-7 from 3-point vary. He added 7 assists and 4 rebounds. The damage comes just days after he scored 600 factors in March, marking just the tenth time in NBA historical past that a participant has reached that stage of manufacturing in any month.
1 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball previous the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
1 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball previous the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
2 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
3 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in entrance of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
4 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.
5 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.
6 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.
7 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 22: The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
8 / 8
Dribble into this assortment of dunk photographs as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.
What does Luka Dončić’s damage imply for the Lakers?
This comes as a blow for Los Angeles, which had gone 15-2 in March and had climbed to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. With Thursday’s loss against the Thunder, however, L.A.’s maintain of the third-seed over the Nuggets shrunk to just 1 recreation. Denver, meanwhile, is on a seven-game profitable streak.
Advertisement
The Lakers have gone 7-6 this season in video games Dončić has been sidelined and he has become the workforce’s premier and most dependable offensive pressure. In his absence, Austin Reaves and LeBron James will have to step up significantly.
Los Angeles Lakers remaining schedule
Sunday, April 5: at Dallas Mavericks
Tuesday, April 7: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday, April 9: at Golden State Warriors
Friday, April 10: vs. Phoenix Suns
Sunday, April 12: vs. Utah Jazz
The NBA playoffs are set to tip off April 18.
NBA playoff standings: Western Conference
Spurs 59-18 (2 video games back)
Timberwolves 46-30 (14.5 GB)
Luka Dončić stats
In 64 video games this season, Dončić is averaging an NBA-high 33.5 factors, with 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per recreation.
1 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
A Seattle Supersonics fan holds a signal advocating for their return during pregame warmups between the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Oct. 10, 2023.
1 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
A Seattle Supersonics fan holds a signal advocating for their return during pregame warmups between the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Oct. 10, 2023.
2 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics middle Bob Rule (45) shoots against the Cincinnati Royals.
3 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics guard Gary Payton lays the ball up against the Chicago Bulls during the 1996 NBA Finals at Key Arena in June 1996.
4 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics followers stand between performs during the second quarter between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Feb. 13, 2011.
5 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle’s Detlef Schrempf (11) , left, flies as he passes the ball during NBA Finals Game 3 on June 9, 1996 in Seattle. At left are Chicago’s Luc Longley (13) and Dennis Rodman (91)
6 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics level guard Gary Payton drives to the basket around Toronto Raptor Damon Stoudamire in the second half at Toronto’s Skydome on Nov. 21, 1995.
7 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
New York Knicks ahead Phil Jackson, left, ahead Dave DeBusschere and Seattle TremendousSonics guard Lenny Wilkens in motion at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 1971.
8 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Ray Allen #34 of the Seattle TremendousSonics reacts after hitting his sixth three-point shot of the recreation against the Denver Nuggets, breaking the NBA report for most three-pointers by a participant in a season (267), on April 19, 2006 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.
9 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics participant Shawn Kemp slam dunks the ball for two of his 21 factors against the Phoenix Suns during their Western Conference NBA playoff recreation on May 3, 1997. The Sonics beat the Suns 116-92 to advance to the convention semi-finals against the Houston Rockets.
10 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Kevin Durant of the Seattle TremendousSonics drives against Pau Gasol #16 and Luke Walton #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Key Arena Feb. 24, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. The Lakers defeated the Sonics 111-91.
11 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics middle Spencer Haywood in motion against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 1971.
12 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics head coach Tom Nissalke against the Atlanta Hawks during the 1972-73 season at The Omni in Atlanta.
13 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Bill Russell, left, head coach and basic supervisor of the Seattle TremendousSonics, talks to followers while ready to coach the Pacific-8 against the SEC in the first spherical of the first annual Four-Star Classic at Memorial Gym in Nashville on April 9, 1974.
14 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle Supersonics guard Don Watts is defended by Atlanta Hawks guard Pete Maravich at The Omni on Dec. 1, 1973 in Atlanta.
15 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway (10) in motion against Seattle Seattle TremendousSonics guard Gary Payton (20) at the Miami Arena on Feb. 28, 1997.
16 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Fans maintain a flag for the Seattle TremendousSonics during the fourth quarter of a recreation between the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Oct. 10, 2023.
17 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics guard Butch Beard (21) in motion against the Atlanta Hawks at The Omni on Feb. 27, 1973 in Atlanta.
18 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics guard Dennis Johnson passes the ball.
19 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Seattle TremendousSonics fan Ervin Fleshman of Edison, Washington holds a signal with his mom Allison (proper) during pregame warmups for a recreation between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings at KeyArena on Oct. 5, 2018.
20 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Forward Tom Chambers of the Seattle TremendousSonics seems to shoot the ball during a recreation against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif. in 1988.
21 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
A fan of the Seattle TremendousSonics holds a signal prior to the recreation against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 1, 2007 at Key Arena in Seattle, Wash.
22 / 22
Fans are prepared for a Seattle TremendousSonics return to Emerald City
Former Seattle TremendousSonics ahead Detlef Schremph reveals off a Sonics t-shirt during a pregame between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors at KeyArena in Seattle on Oct. 5, 2018.
