A 96-139 blowout and Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury crushed the Lakers at Paycom Center on Thursday. All eyes froze as the Slovenian hit the floor in Q3, pain etched across his face. Frustrated, in tears, and clearly hurting, he sought a moment away from the cameras. Sadly, stardom offers none. But his teammate, Jarred Vanderbilt, recognized the weight of the moment.

While Luka walked off the court, with the jersey covering his face, cameras followed him. Meanwhile, Vando offered silent understanding amid the chaos and heartbreak on the court. He quickened his pace to block the cameras aimed at Doncic. At one moment, Vando also stared directly into the lens, trying to capture the distressed Slovenian superstar.

Well, Jarred Vanderbilt wasn’t the only one trying to protect Luka after his injury. In fact, the whole of the Los Angeles Lakers, precisely Austin Reaves, stood up for his teammate.

When Luka Doncic lay on the floor, with the medics tending to his injury, the front row of OKC fans turned hostile. One of them, rudely said, “Now you don’t wanna play defense?” The fan’s voice echoed clearly through the front-view camera. The same camera caught an angry AR.

“Shut the f–k up! He’s f–king hurt!” the 28-year-old guard fired back at the rude fan. Well, the back-and-forth didn’t stop, because the person tried to enrage Reaves more, “F–k you,” they said. But Reaves wasn’t ready to give up so easily. He fired back one more time, reciprocating the same energy. “F–k you. Have some respect,” he called out.

After the heated moment, the Lakers‘ staff helped Luka Doncic off the court. He limped and tried hiding his tears under his jersey. Now, for both Jarred Vanderbilt and Austin Reaves, watching the 27-year-old in pain was like watching their worst nightmare turn into reality. Because in the worst-case scenario, he might not be around during the first leg of the playoffs.

Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury: Best and Worst-Case Scenarios

Luka showed clear signs of discomfort as early as the first quarter on April 2. He repeatedly grabbed his left leg. However, head coach JJ Redick clarified that the medical team had given the Slovenian star a green signal to play the game. Simply put, Luka Doncic was medically fit to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. But the inevitable happened in the third quarter of the game.

Luka Doncic abruptly pulled up mid-possession, then limped off, leaving the arena stunned. The non-contact scare told its own story. He looked frustrated, hurt, and shaken. Worse, it struck the same left hamstring that already forced him to miss multiple games earlier this season.

Now, according to sports doctor Evan Jeffries, recovery depends on how serious the strain is. A mild Grade I issue could take about 1–2 weeks. However, a more severe Grade II strain may sideline him for 3–6 weeks. With the playoffs tipping off on April 18, barely two weeks away, the timing couldn’t be worse.

Meanwhile, RotoWire analyst Jeff Stotts said, “This season, the average time lost for nondescript hamstring strains in the NBA has been ~22 days (~9 games). That’s higher than the historical averages of 12.1 days (~5 games).” At the same time, head coach JJ Redick confirmed Luka Doncic will get an MRI on Friday. “We’ll do an MRI tomorrow, left hamstring. We’ll know more tomorrow,” he told the media. Now, everything hinges on that result, as the team waits anxiously for clarity.

On Thursday, Doncic played for 26 minutes before walking away with the injury. He added 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. Meanwhile, the Slovenian star is having an incredible 2025-26 regular season. So far, he has averaged 33.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 8.3 apg in 64 appearances.

Everything now comes down to Luka Doncic’s body and time. The Lakers have done their part, but that uncertainty hangs heavy. Meanwhile, Jarred Vanderbilt and Austin Reaves showed exactly what this team stands for. However, the injury changes everything. The focus shifts to recovery and patience, because one result will decide how far this season can truly go.