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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic

The last time Luka Doncic played a game of basketball was against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.

Since then, the Los Angeles Lakers have finished the regular season as the No. 4 seed, eliminated the Houston Rockets in the first round, and lost their first three games of the second round against OKC.

With the Lakers down 3-0 and staring down elimination in Game 4, they need all the help they can get but Doncic isn’t yet in the position to do that.

Doncic led the league in scoring and was a strong candidate for MVP but unfortunately, it seems the Lakers will finish this postseason without him. Lakers fans wouldn’t help but think how things would have been different in this second round if Doncic had played.

Luka Doncic Would’ve Made No Difference?

The Thunder have got a stronghold on this Western Conference semis, so strong that even with Doncic healthy, the outcome likely would not have been different from what it is at the moment. 

GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA game.

OKC is the most efficient team in the league. It boasts one of the best-rated defenses, a unit built to suffocate scorers and exploit mismatches. The Lakers had their work cut out for them when this fixture was decided.

The Thunder won seven of its games against Los Angeles in the regular season and playoffs this season. Doncic’s availability may not have been the key to taking them down. 

According to Melissa Rohlin of the California Post, the Lakers would have been more competitive with their Slovenian superstar but not enough to cause OKC problems.

“Sure, the Lakers would’ve had an easier time scoring if Doncic had been on the court,” Rohlin wrote. “But it still wouldn’t have been enough. The Thunder’s top-rated defense would’ve collapsed on him and they still would’ve had ample depth to swarm everyone else.”

Rohlin also noted that Doncic being the primary ball handler would also be a liability in the defensive end for the Lakers. 

“He would’ve been yet another target for the Thunder to attack with their dribble-drives, alongside Austin Reaves and Luke Kennard, who have basically been rendered unplayable together this series,” Rohlin added.

Doncic is still recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring tear and while there have been speculations that he may play a part in the postseason, it looks unlikely. He did make that trip to Europe to accelerate healing and has been progressing with running and non-contact work. But that is just about it.

Multiple reports confirm the Lakers entered this series expecting no contribution from him, prioritizing long-term health over a risky return.

Where the Lakers Can Go from Here

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half of Game Two of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

A loss tonight will ultimately end the Lakers’ season. A win will prolong it because turning around a 3-0 deficit looks out of question seeing how no other team has ever done so.  

LeBron James is still logging heavy minutes but without Doncic, the Lakers were always going to be underdogs in this series. It has played out that way.

Reaves, despite a strong showing in Game 2 when he scored 31 points, it doesn’t look like he has fully gained game sharpness following his recovery from Grade 2 oblique strain.