The Los Angeles Lakers are navigating one of the toughest stretches of their 2025-26 season, suddenly forced to compete without two of their most impactful players. Yet, amid the uncertainty, head coach JJ Redick delivered a message of urgency and optimism ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
In his pregame comments, Redick revealed that both Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique injury) are determined to accelerate their recoveries and return to the court as soon as physically possible.
“Both those guys are going to try to come back, so it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back,” Redick told reporters, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
The injuries occurred during the Lakers’ lopsided 139-96 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game that exposed the team’s vulnerabilities without their star backcourt. Doncic suffered his hamstring strain in the third quarter, while Reaves sustained his oblique issue in the same contest. Both players were officially ruled out for the remainder of the regular season following MRIs, leaving their availability for the 2026 NBA Playoffs uncertain.
A typical Grade 2 strain often requires roughly four weeks of recovery, though timelines can vary based on individual healing and treatment protocols. Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer this season, has already begun consulting with Lakers medical staff and his personal team. Reports indicate he plans to seek specialized treatment in Europe in an effort to expedite his return. Reaves faces a similar 4-6 week window, meaning both stars could potentially miss the early rounds of the postseason if they adhere strictly to conservative timelines.
Despite the absences, the Lakers have already secured their playoff berth. Sitting at 50-27, they currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. With only a handful of regular-season games remaining, the focus now shifts to preserving that positioning and building momentum heading into the playoffs.
At 41 years old, LeBron James is expected to shoulder a significantly heavier workload in the coming weeks. The veteran superstar will likely anchor the offense, with supporting pieces such as Deandre Ayton and others stepping into expanded roles. Redick’s message to the team is clear: survive the short term, protect home-court advantage where possible, and create the longest possible runway for their injured stars to rejoin the fray.
The Lakers’ resilience will be tested immediately. Sunday’s showdown in Dallas carries added emotional weight—not only is it a matchup against Doncic’s former team, but it also marks one of the first games without the Slovenian phenom and Reaves, who have been central to Los Angeles’ offensive identity this season.
While caution remains the watchword—rushing players back from Grade 2 strains risks re-injury—the competitive fire from Doncic and Reaves offers a glimmer of hope. If the supporting cast can hold the fort and “extend the season,” as Redick put it, the Lakers could yet enter the playoffs with their full arsenal intact, bolstering their title aspirations in what has already been a transformative year under the first-year head coach.
For now, Los Angeles must lean on veteran leadership, defensive intensity, and collective effort. The road ahead is challenging, but Redick’s update underscores a team unwilling to concede ground without a fight—and two stars equally determined to defy the calendar.