By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Los Angeles Lakers face a significant setback as superstar Luka Doncic exited Thursday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center after suffering an apparent left hamstring injury. The incident occurred with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter when the Slovenian superstar pulled up for a shot attempt and was immediately seen hobbling while clutching the back of his left leg. Though he was able to leave the floor under his own power, he headed directly to the locker room for evaluation.
At the time of his departure, the Lakers were facing a substantial deficit against the Thunder. Doncic finished the night with 12 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and one steal, while also committing six turnovers in 26 minutes of action.
This injury is particularly concerning given Ljubljana native’s recent medical history during the 2025–26 NBA Regular Season. The All-Star has battled recurring soft tissue issues, including a stint on the injury report with left hamstring soreness in late March and a four-game absence in February due to a mild strain in the same leg.
Doncic remains narrowly eligible for the season-ending awards, including the Most Valuable Player distinction. To meet the limit of 65 appearances, he can only miss four more games.
The Thunder completed one-way traffic with a 139–96 victory, jumping to 61–16 and reducing the Lakers to 50–27. His German teammate Maxi Kleber ended up with four rebounds and one steal in eight minutes.
For the defending champions, German starter Isaiah Hartenstein contributed seven points, six rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists in 20 minutes. Additional European contributions came off the bench with Belgium’s Ajay Mitchell recording ten points, three rebounds, and one assist in 16 minutes, and Serbia’s Nikola Topic finishing with two points, two assists, and two rebounds in 12 minutes.
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