Luka Doncic, Jalen Williams
May 2026
Luka Doncic and Jalen Williams will miss Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals due to hamstring injuries, dealing a major blow to both teams. Doncic continues recovery from a long-term issue while Williams remains sidelined after aggravating his injury in the previous round, forcing adjustments ahead of the series opener.
Los Angeles Lakers
May 2026
Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals after defeating the Houston Rockets in Game 6, overcoming injuries to key players with a strong defensive performance. LeBron James led the scoring effort while the Lakers limited Houston to their lowest point total of the season. Team resilience and defensive intensity proved decisive in closing out the series.
Kevin Durant
April 2026
Kevin Durant is unlikely to return for Game 5 against the Lakers as he continues recovering from an ankle injury, leaving Houston facing a crucial playoff clash without their star forward. Durant has missed multiple games with a sprain and bone bruise, focusing on conditioning work rather than full practice. The Rockets remain cautious, assessing his fitness daily before deciding on potential involvement in the elimination game.
Kevin Durant
April 2026
Kevin Durant missed Houston’s playoff opener against the Lakers because of a bruised right knee suffered in practice. The Rockets still believe it may only cost him one game. Udoka said Durant tested the knee but did not feel well enough to play because of pain and restricted movement. Scans found no structural damage, and Houston remain hopeful he can return quickly as the series continues.
Bronny James, LeBron James
April 2026
Bronny James made his playoff debut alongside LeBron James, with the pair becoming the first father-son duo to play together in NBA postseason history. That added another milestone to a season that had already seen them become the first father-son pairing to share the floor in an NBA game. Bronny entered at the start of the second quarter and played a short stretch next to his father. Reuters previously confirmed the regular-season milestone, and this playoff appearance extends that unique family record into the postseason.
Kevin Durant
April 2026
Kevin Durant missed Game 1 of Houston’s playoff series against the Lakers with a right knee injury suffered in practice. The Rockets do not believe it is a long-term problem, but they had to begin the series without their leading scorer. Ime Udoka said Durant tested the knee but could not move comfortably enough to play. Houston hopes the issue is only worth one game, and Reed Sheppard stepped into the lineup while the Lakers also continue without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves
April 2026
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will not be back in time for the start of the Lakers’ playoff series against Houston, leaving Los Angeles without its two top scorers for Game 1. JJ Redick said both are out indefinitely, with Doncic still recovering from a hamstring strain and Reaves dealing with an oblique injury. Their absences leave LeBron James carrying more of the offensive load as the Lakers open the series against the Rockets.
Austin Reaves
April 2026
Austin Reaves will miss the rest of the regular season after the Lakers confirmed a Grade 2 oblique muscle injury. His absence, combined with Luka Doncic’s hamstring problem, leaves Los Angeles shorthanded for the final five games of the regular season. Reaves was injured in the Oklahoma City loss, underwent an MRI, and was later ruled out for the regular season. The Lakers now need to protect their playoff position without one of their main scorers and creators, while the team evaluates longer-term postseason availability.
Luka Doncic
April 2026
Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the regular season after the Lakers confirmed a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring. The injury arrives at a brutal time for Los Angeles and leaves Doncic one game short of the standard 65-game awards threshold. The strain was revealed after an MRI following his injury in the blowout loss to Oklahoma City. Associated Press reported the Lakers have only five regular-season games left, making a return before the playoffs unrealistic, while Doncic’s camp plans to challenge the award-eligibility issue through the league’s extraordinary circumstances process.
Luka Doncic
April 2026
Luka Doncic injured his left hamstring in the Lakers’ blowout loss to Oklahoma City and is set for an MRI. The injury came during another poor night for Los Angeles, which also saw Austin Reaves dealing with a back issue as the team’s four-game winning streak ended. JJ Redick said Doncic first felt the issue in the first half, received treatment at halftime, then returned before aggravating it in the third quarter. Reuters reported he left with 12 points in a 139-96 defeat, while Reaves played through pain before sitting the fourth.
