Luka Doncic Injury Update: Will Lakers Star Return vs. Thunder?

News ArticlePublishedMay 02, 2026 at 04:36 PM EDTBy Tyler ErzbergerThe Los Angeles Lakers are alive.When the team qualified for the playoffs, even as the home favorite over the Houston Rockets, they were massive underdogs.Why? Their two best scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, were both out.And while Reaves returned at the end of the six-game series to finish off the Rockets, Doncic stayed on the bench, sidelined with a hamstring injury.So, will the Slovenian superstar be back for the team's next playoff matchup with the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder?More news: Here’s Who Wins Every NBA Eastern Conference First-Round Playoff Series...More news: Kevin Durant Could Leave the Rockets for These 3 Teams This OffseasonAlthough Doncic went to Europe in hopes of expediting his return to the court from the hamstring he pulled a month ago against the very same Thunder, it doesn't appear as if the NBA's leading scorer will be healthy enough to play in the upcoming playoff series.Be it precautionary or physically incapable, Doncic hasn't even gotten back to running or been part of practice, which would be the first step in a week-long process to get up to speed before returning to the court.If Doncic returned early