Lakers’ Doncic (hamstring) to miss at least rest of regular season

Dallas– Los Angeles Lakers star luka doncic The team announced Friday that he will be sidelined until at least the end of the regular season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

Doncic underwent an MRI in Dallas on Friday afternoon, which revealed the severity of the strain he suffered in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 139-96 loss. oklahoma city thunder On Thursday.

Grade 2 strains typically involve a month of recovery, but the Lakers did not provide a timetable for Doncic’s return other than missing the final five regular-season games. The first round of the NBA playoffs begins on Saturday, April 18.

While the injury will prevent Doncic from reaching the 65-game threshold needed to be eligible for season-ending awards, his agent, WME Basketball’s Bill Duffy, told ESPN’s Shams Charania that he will apply for an “extraordinary circumstances challenge” on his client’s behalf.

“This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, leading the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the midst of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory. To ensure Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are appropriately honored and he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we are calling for the 65-game rule. Intends to apply for an ‘Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge,'” Duffy said in a statement to ESPN.

“Luka missed two games this season due to the birth of his second child in Slovenia. His daughter was born on December 4 on another continent, and yet he returned to the United States to compete with his team on December 6. Luka has performed well for his team and this league this season. Despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances, his record-breaking season deserves to go down in the history books. We will be fair to make sure. Look forward to working with the NBAPA and the league office on the outcome of this matter.”

Doncic’s first full regular season with the Lakers would end with the eight-year veteran leading the league with 33.5 points, along with 8.3 assists (third in the NBA), 7.7 rebounds (second among guards) and 1.6 steals per game (sixth in the league) in 64 appearances.

The Lakers, currently ranked No. 3 in the Western Conference, have already clinched a playoff spot and have a road game against dallas mavericksHome game against Thunder, road game against Golden State Warriors Home games against and phoenix sun And utah jazz Stick to your schedule.

LA is one game ahead of No. 4 denver nuggetsTwo and a half games ahead of No. 5 Houston Rockets And three and a half games ahead of No. 6 minnesota timberwolves. The Lakers also own the tiebreaker against those three teams, having won the season series against each of them.