Luka Doncic Out for Season, Lakers Seek Playoff Push

Lakers lose Luka Doncic for rest of regular season

Luka Doncic ruled out for rest of regular season with Grade 2 hamstring injury, Lakers face playoff uncertainty. Doncic's agent applies for 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to keep MVP hopes alive after injury.

Luka Doncic to miss rest of regular season, finishes with 64 games played, falls short of awards eligibility...

The Los Angeles Lakers have ruled out Luka Doncic for the rest of the regular season due to a Grade 2 hamstring injury. He suffered the injury during their 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday and won't play again until the playoffs.

This is tough news for the Lakers, who were counting on Doncic's MVP-caliber performance to push them deep into the postseason. He's been incredible this season, averaging 33.5 points per game and leading the Lakers to a 50-27 record. With him out, the team will have to rely on other players to step up.

Given the injury's severity, there's concern about Doncic's availability for the playoffs, but the Lakers do have some time to rest and recover before the postseason tips off. 

His agent, Bill Duffy, announced that they will be applying for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule. The goal is to get an exception so Luka Doncic can maintain his status in the MVP race.

Just in on @SportsCenter – Lakers’ Luka Doncic will be sidelined indefinitely heading into the playoffs with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain: pic.twitter.com/3yXfJzHYTO

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2026

Doncic had missed one game after being suspended upon receiving his 16th technical foul on the season. He also missed another couple of games back in December after the birth of his daughter. Since he'll miss the rest of the regular season, Doncic will finish with 64 games played, falling just one short of being eligible for awards.

Just in on @SportsCenter – Lakers’ Luka Doncic will be sidelined indefinitely heading into the playoffs with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain: pic.twitter.com/3yXfJzHYTO

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2026

Luka Doncic is having an incredible season, averaging a league-best 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game.

The Dallas Mavericks are 3rd in the Western Conference with a 50-27 record, just one game ahead of the Denver Nuggets (49-28). They have five games left, and their schedule is:

1. @ Dallas Mavericks (April 5th)
2. vs. Thunder (April 7th)
3. @ Golden State Warriors (April 9th)
4. vs. Phoenix Suns (April 10th)
5. 5vs. Utah Jazz (April 12th)