Luka Doncic Not Expected to Return for Lakers in Round 1

The Los Angeles Lakers began their 2026 NBA playoff campaign with a Game 1 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

LeBron James and the Lakers accomplished this feat without both of their top two scorers: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Both Doncic and Reaves sustained regular-season ending injuries during an April 2 loss to the reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Doncic is recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and Reaves is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain.