Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic sustained a left hamstring injury and exited in the third quarter of a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday in Oklahoma City. Photo by Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic sustained a left hamstring injury during a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Doncic exited in the third quarter of the 139-96 setback Thursday in Oklahoma City. Lakers coach J.J. Redick said the All-NBA guard will undergo an MRI on Friday.
Doncic initially grabbed at the hamstring late in the first half, but was cleared by Lakers doctors. He again aggravated the area during a drive to the lane with about 7:40 remaining in the third quarter. He limped off the court and did not return.
“We checked him out,” Redick told reporters, when asked about Doncic. “He got worked on. He was cleared. We are not going to put a player at risk.
“Those things happen.”
Doncic averaged an NBA-best 33.5 points per game through his first 64 starts this season. He also logged 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per appearance. Doncic leads the NBA in field goal attempts (22.8), 3-pointers made (4.0), 3-point attempts (10.8) and free throw attempts (10.1) per game.
The six-time All-Star was in the running for MVP prior to his injury, but his eligibility could now be in doubt, as players can only win the award if they play in at least 65 games. He must play in at least one of the Lakers’ final five regular-season games to gain eligibility for the honor.
Doncic made 3 of 10 shots, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range, for 12 points in 25:42 of action in Thursday’s loss. He also chipped in seven assists and four rebounds, but logged a game-high six turnovers.
Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a game-high 28 points, with seven assists and seven rebounds for the Thunder. Fellow Thunder guard Isaiah Joe chipped in 20 points off the bench in the victory.
The Lakers (50-27) were 15-2 in March, with Doncic averaging a league-best 37.5 points per game. They sit in third place in the Western Conference, just one game ahead of the Denver Nuggets (49-28).
The Lakers will battle Doncic’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, at 7:30 p.m. EDT Sunday in Dallas.
The NBA-best Thunder (61-16) will host the Utah Jazz at 7 p.m. Sunday in Oklahoma City. They will take on the Lakers in a rematch Tuesday in Los Angeles.
