The Los Angeles Lakers' promising season has taken a sharp turn. The sudden setbacks are concerning, and even Magic Johnson could not stay silent.

Magic Johnson addressed the back-to-back injury announcements for star players Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. With the NBA Playoffs just a week away, the injuries create significant challenges for the team. 

The Hall of Famer first expressed his disappointment regarding Dončić. He noted he was "devastated" because Dončić was having a true MVP-level run. He then followed up with another tweet focusing on Reaves. Magic said that just as he processed the first injury, the team lost another key piece. 

Both injuries occurred during the same game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, April 2. Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and is officially out for the rest of the regular season. The usual recovery time for such a strain is around four weeks. 

However, his agent, Bill Duffy, confirmed the star traveled to Spain for a specialized injection procedure. He is doing everything possible to return to the court as soon as possible. 

Reaves played through the initial pain, but an MRI later revealed a Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain. He will also miss the remaining games of the regular season. The expected timeline for his recovery is 4 to 6 weeks. 

The guards have already missed significant time this season, and these latest setbacks have jeopardized postseason awards for both.

The injuries from the Thunder game are already changing how the team operates. This leaves them in a tough position before the playoffs. 

Lakers Face Playoff Uncertainty Without Key Players

The Lakers played their first game without either star on Sunday, April 5, against the Mavericks. They lost the game 134-128. The offense clearly struggled while missing its two leading scorers. 

LeBron James spoke openly after the Mavericks' loss. He described finding out about Dončić as "another shot to the heart, the chest, and the mainframe." Head coach JJ Redick says the team is working closely with the medical staff to get them back on the court. 

The Lakers only have three regular-season games left. The regular season ends on April 12, and the first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 18.

Los Angeles holds the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference standings. If they maintain this spot, they will face the No. 5 seed, which would pit them against the Houston Rockets if the season ended today. However, with the injuries, they might fall further in the standings. 

The Lakers have to rely on James and their bench depth for now! Do the Lakers have any real chances in the first round without Dončić and Reaves? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Siddharth Rawat