As the NBA Playoffs get underway, the Los Angeles Lakers have received a glimmer of optimism regarding their star acquisition Luka Doncic, even as uncertainty continues to surround key contributor Austin Reaves. With the team set to face the Houston Rockets in the first round, LA is hoping to keep its season alive long enough for its injured stars to make an impact.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha, appearing on FanDuel’s Run It Back, delivered the latest insight into the recovery timelines for both players. While both Doncic and Reaves suffered Grade 2 strains in the same late-regular-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the expectations for their returns differ noticeably.
“He obviously went to Spain to get treatment. They’re hoping that could shave off a few days, or even up to a week,” Buha said of Doncic. “Austin, it was four to six weeks.”
Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) has taken an aggressive approach to his recovery, traveling to Europe for specialized treatment and injections in an effort to accelerate healing. The Lakers are optimistic that this proactive step could allow the superstar to return ahead of Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique injury), who has been following a more standard rehabilitation protocol in Los Angeles.
Both players were ruled out for Game 1 of the series against the Rockets on Saturday, April 18, and their availability for the remainder of the first-round matchup remains uncertain. Official updates from head coach JJ Redick have described both as “out indefinitely,” with no firm timeline expected in the immediate future. However, internal expectations point to Doncic potentially being the first to make his way back if the Lakers can extend the series.
The injuries could not have come at a worse time. Doncic and Reaves had been central to the Lakers’ success, with Doncic delivering MVP-caliber production and Reaves providing reliable scoring and playmaking. Their absences leave LeBron James shouldering a heavier load as the clear underdogs against a young, talented Houston Rockets squad.
Still, the Lakers are far from conceding. The organization’s focus remains on competing fiercely in every game, buying time for potential reinforcements. If LA can survive the early games and push the series deeper, the hope is that a healthier—or at least closer-to-ready—Luka Doncic could tilt the balance.
For Austin Reaves, the four-to-six-week window suggests his return may not materialize until later in the first round or possibly beyond, assuming the Lakers advance. The oblique strain is a tricky injury that demands caution to avoid setbacks.
As the series tips off, all eyes will be on how the Lakers adapt without their top two scorers from the regular season. LeBron James and the supporting cast are expected to fight tooth and nail, but the long-term outlook for the postseason hinges heavily on the health and timely returns of Doncic and Reaves.
The positive signals around Luka’s recovery offer a much-needed boost for a franchise that has endured significant injury challenges. Whether that optimism translates into on-court availability in time to make a difference against the Rockets remains the critical question as the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin.