While they’re risking becoming the first NBA team to blow a 3–0 lead, the Los Angeles Lakers 99–93 loss last night to the Houston Rockets could be a silver lining as it extends the series to give Luka Doncic more time to heal.
The basketball Gods have clearly been working full-time during these playoffs to keep LeBron’s and the Lakers’ championship hopes alive, giving LA a miraculous OT win in Game 3 and daunting 3–0 lead vs. Houston. Now they appear to be conspiring to help the Lakers by extending the series to 6 or 7 games so LA’s chances of getting superstar Luka Doncic back sooner rather than later in their playoff series vs. OKC would be better.
Luka was expected to miss 4 to 8 weeks due to hamstring injured on April 2nd. Today, April 30, is exactly 4 weeks time but Luka is still 1 week away from his earliest projected return, which is currently Thursday, May 7th.
If the Lakers win Game 6, the second round would likely start Sunday, May 3rd and Luka would be ready for Game 3. If the Lakers win Game 7, the series would start Tuesday, May 5th and Luka would be ready for Game 2.
While the Lakers would love to see how this team with a fully healthy Luka, LeBron, and Austin would fare against the champion Thunder, the question LA should should probably ask is ‘whether’ Luka plays rather than ‘when.’
There are multiple examples of NBA players coming back too early from hamstring and calf injuries and getting more seriously reinjured. The Lakers might be smart to hold Luka out and not endanger his future health.
But maybe the basketball gods have their way and the LA beats Houston in Game 7 and Luka is miraculously ready to go on May 5th as the Cinderella Lakers are suddenly healthy and ready to go vs. the champion Thunder.
If we win the series against OKC tomorrow, it kicks off on Sunday the 3rd if Cleveland or Orlando also wrap up their series.
Otherwise, it kicks off on Tuesday the 5th.