Spurs injury report vs Nuggets: https://t.co/d3uOhzMDao pic.twitter.com/Ro0GGH0O7F— Trevor Lane (@TrevorLane) April 11, 2026

Lakers and Jazz injury reports for tomorrow’s game: pic.twitter.com/NzRjhBbzK8— Vinny Benedetto (@VBenedetto) April 12, 2026

We can’t beat Timberwolves with Ant Man and two first team All-Defensive players in Gobert and McDaniels without Luka and Austin but we can beat the Rockets. Lakers should do exactly what the Nuggets are doing, which is try to lose game so they can play Houston. That is a no brainer. We will have to play Spurs and Thunder at some point but be much better to play Rockets than Timberwolves.

CORRECTION:Lose and we play Rockets/Thunder/Spurs. Win and we play Wolves/Spurs/Thunder.— LakerTom (@LakerTom) April 12, 2026

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The Los Angeles Lakers got a fresh update on Luka Doncic’s hamstring rehab in Europe, and there is reason for optimism.

Luka Doncic went from playing some of the best basketball of his life to boarding a flight to Europe in the span of a few days. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers have an early update on where his recovery stands.

According to Slovenian outlet Ekipa, Doncic has already wrapped up his first round of treatment in Spain. The outlet reported that “Doncic has already completed the first series of therapies,” and that he then traveled briefly to Ljubljana to spend time with his two daughters before the next phase begins.

More importantly, the report speculates he will return to Los Angeles, maybe around the start of the second round of the playoffs.

The trip to Slovenia was not a detour, it was part of the plan. A player who is mentally checked in recovers better, and with the playoffs days away, the Lakers need Doncic locked in on both fronts when he returns.

After Ljubljana, Doncic heads back to Madrid for a second series of therapies under Dr. Javier Barrio, a physician connected to Real Madrid, Doncic’s former club. This is not a random choice of location. Doncic grew up in Madrid, speaks the language, and knows the city. Comfort matters during recovery.

Luka Doncic Stem Cell Treatment Playoff Return Timeline Explained

The injury happened on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. A Grade 2 left hamstring strain typically takes four to six weeks to heal, which would rule him out for the entire first round.

But stem cell treatments and platelet-rich plasma therapy are less restricted in Europe, meaning they can be administered in more potent forms than what is available in the United States.

Medical experts have suggested this approach could cut the standard recovery timeline in half, putting Doncic back on the floor in two to three weeks. The first round starts April 18. Two to three weeks from that lands right around when a second round would begin, which matches the return window reported out of Slovenia.

That means the Lakers need to win a first-round series without him and without Austin Reaves, who is also out four to six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain.

At 52-29 and holding at least the fourth seed in the West for the playoffs, the Lakers need LeBron James and the rest of the roster to step up and get past the first round. If they can do that, Doncic and Reaves could both be back and ready for the second round.

Doctor Warns Lakers’ Austin Reaves Oblique Injury Could Get Worse

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a nightmare scenario heading into the playoffs, with Austin Reaves sidelined by a Grade 2 oblique strain, expected to keep him out 4-6 weeks.

Experts caution that rushing his return could lead to severe setbacks, potentially derailing LA’s postseason run. As Luka Doncic’s hamstring woes added the crisis, LeBron James steps up amid uncertainty.

Doctor’s Dire Warning on Reaves’ Oblique

In a detailed breakdown on the Hoops Rehab Show. Dr. Evan Jeffries dissected the dangers of Reaves’ injury, emphasizing fresh tissue vulnerability.

“That tissue whenever you lay down new tissue, it is brand new and fresh. That has a tendency to actually tear earlier if you come back too soon,” he stated.

He warned of short-term aggravation and long-term complications, such as reduced stability, drawing parallels to past NBA cases.

He also highlighted rotational stress in basketball, worsening oblique tears, noting pain tolerance often masks severity. His analysis aligns with reports of Reaves missing the regular season’s end, urging caution over injections like those Danny Green once used.

Why this hurts the Lakers even more

Reaves’​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ injury comes in addition to Luka Doncic’s Grade 2 hamstring strain, which means the Lakers’ starting backcourt is basically wiped out going into the postseason. The Lakers were given a four-to-six-week timeline for both players, so it’s quite probable they’ll make the playoffs without their two main offensive players and secondary playmakers.

The Hoops Rehab host put it bluntly: “I haven’t seen a a team go into the playoffs as badly injured as the Lakers have I’ve seen in a long time, especially when it comes to your star players. ”

That thought ties Reaves’ oblique concern directly into the franchise’s odds: a team that looked like a top‑three seed in the West is now navigating a minefield of soft‑tissue injuries, with each player’s return carrying a real risk of reinjury.

The LeBron angle

Adding​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ to the layers of fine-tuning, LeBron James was out for the Lakers’ vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, a decision that even the broadcast commentator deemed “a very, very, very smart decision.”

The message is clear: the 41-year-old veteran will have to be in tip-top shape for the playoffs, where his minutes and intensity will be very high with Doncic and Reaves out.

Reports now indicate that LeBron has been cleared for the next game, which looms against the Golden State Warriors. That sets up a tricky balance: use him enough to maintain game rhythm without reigniting his foot issues.