Dave McMenamin
Multiple Authors
OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic exited Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder early because of a strained left hamstring and was ruled out.
Doncic first appeared to tweak the hamstring late in the first half and then tweaked it again midway through the third quarter, causing him to double over in pain and then lie down on the baseline with his hands covering his face once L.A. called timeout.
After teammates surrounded him to check on him, Doncic was able to walk to the Lakers’ locker room on his own, albeit gingerly, with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter and L.A. trailing 90-58.
The injury ended what was already a nightmarish performance by Doncic, as he checked out with 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting (1-for-7 from 3), 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 turnovers.
The Lakers were outscored by 25 in the 26 minutes Doncic was on the court.
After a dream March during which the Lakers went 15-2 and Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Month for averaging 37.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game, the start to April was a major disappointment on several levels for L.A.
In what was billed as a late-season game that could sway MVP voters still deciding where to place Doncic and the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on their ballots, Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant, putting up 28 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and just 1 turnover through the first three quarters.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ potential as title contenders in the upcoming playoffs was called into question with a no-show against the defending NBA champs.
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