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Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77, reacts to a referee's call in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, March 27, 2026. For the second time in less than a week, Luka Doncic faces a one-game suspension because of technical foul accumulation. Doncic finished with 41 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the win.

There is growing uncertainty about whether Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will play against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

Amid reports that minority owner Jeanie Buss is confident that Doncic will return in the latter part of the first round, some Lakers insiders have suggested that the Slovenian is nowhere near a return as he recovers from a grade 2 hamstring strain.

“Luka is in a completely different scenario [than Austin Reaves],” Lakers insider Dave McMenamin said on the “Howdy Partners” podcast on Wednesday, while suggesting that Reaves was more likely to return from his injury against the Rockets.

Per an ESPN study, the average recovery time for a player with a grade 2 hamstring strain is 29 days. Based on that timeline, Doncic — who sustained the injury on April 2 — could be ready for Game 6 on May 1 or Game 7 on May 3. 

Luka Doncic Injury Update

However, McMenamin explained why those past cases don’t apply to Doncic.

“While a grade 2 hamstring strain on average has a month-long recovery process….You have to consider that he already hurt his hamstring earlier in the season and has had calf injuries in the past,” McMenamin said of Doncic.

“If there’s a kinetic chain, if the hamstring gets messed up, it can lead to calf [issues] down the line. And the calf can lead to the worst injury [Achilles] in basketball.”

The Lakers will reportedly be super cautious with Doncic, given the nature of his injury.

“They’re going to be careful and cautious with Luka Doncic, but if you get through the first round, you’re buying yourself another week [before the second round].”

Jeanie Buss Expects Luka Doncic Back

Further to McMenamin’s point, the Western Conference semifinals won’t start until late first week of May, giving Doncic another two full weeks to rehab his hamstring. In a perfect world, the Lakers would prefer to advance without risking Doncic.

Some still believe Doncic, who received specialized treatment for his hamstring in Spain, could return to face the Rockets within the next week or so. ESPN’s Stephen A Smith reported Wednesday that Lakers ownership “did not confirm nor deny” when asked if Doncic would return during the Lakers vs Rockets series.

“I believe he will [play in the first round],” Smith said of Doncic.

“[Lakers owner] Jeanie Buss — I interviewed her the other day, she would not confirm nor deny, she said, ‘We’re not going to let out any secret on anything’ … but we are excited for the possibilities and left it like that.”

With or without Doncic, the Lakers are now betting favorites (-135) to beat the Rockets, a stunning turn of events after they opened as massive +550 underdogs. While Doncic’s return remains up in the air, there’s growing belief that Reaves — who sustained an oblique injury on April 2 — could be cleared for Game 5 on April 29. Reaves has reportedly begun 1-on-1 workouts and will soon progress to 3-on-3 and 5-on-5.