LakeShow’s biggest nightmare has struck. The Los Angeles Lakers are back home and hosting the Philadelphia 76ers. But things went sideways very early. Luka Doncic abruptly left the court in the first half. And his gait looked really bad. Before the Lakers ended halftime down 51-59, they had an ominous announcement.

With about three minutes left in the first half, Doncic was in the corner, committed a turnover while trying to make a pass to Maxi Kleber. It was Kleber who knocked into 76ers Quentin Grimes. While he fell to the floor clutching his face where Kleber accidentally hit, Luka Doncic suddenly held his right hamstring.

After gingerly walking on the court, Doncic ultimately left before the first half concluded. He was limping visibly and seemed frustrated on the way to the locker room. So frustrated in fact, he kicked the score table and bent over it in pain.

The Lakers have left his status in the air as he gets assessed for a hamstring injury. He had played about 15 minutes and had 10 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists by then. It’s so far a non-contact injury.

An update came from Spectrum’s Mike Trudell during the third quarter. “He’s out for the game due to left leg soreness,” Trudell confirmed. Luka Doncic is ruled out for the rest of the game. He is suffering from left leg soreness and won’t return to complete the game.

Still no word on the severity of it. But from the looks of it, Doncic has avoided the worst.

Luka Doncic avoids the worst

The Lakers started the second half without Doncic. But the general assessment was not so great. Doncic had been unstead since he started the game, committing a few turnovers. The Spectrum analysts suspect he could’ve been having cramps. Or at least they’re hoping it’s not worse than that and he can return to give the Lakers a late-game spurt.

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This stretch of the seen has not been kind on MVP candidates but they’ve been relatively lucky. First Nikola Jokic avoided an ACL tear when he hyperextended his knee. Now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is sidelined through the All-Star break for abdominal strain. 

A hamstring strain, at worst would mean sitting out more than one game or aggravating it to much worse. Something Jalen Green and the Phoenix Suns are contending with right now. A sore leg may have a shorter recovery timeline provided the scans are clear.

Yet the anxiety can’t be discounted. Especially after the elevated Cavs court gave us a scare.

Lakers faithful are all crying and screaming at the basketball gods on social media. They just got Austin Reaves back after more than a month and they were looking forward to the ‘immature non-friends’ reuniting. Now we have to contend with the prospect of Doncic facing the unspeakable curse.

Halftime concluded with the LeBron show. 41-year-old King James made a monster slam to bring the Lakers within 7 points. But the anxiety for Luka is far stronger as hamstring injuries could mean an extended break. Maybe like OKC and SGA, the Lakers would rest Doncic through the All-Star break too. That would mean another All-Star starter could be out of the ASG.

After the game, JJ Redick confirmed that Luka “felt some soreness in his hamstring.” The staff didn’t think it was safe to send Doncic back in the game with a sore hamstring. They’re waiting on MRIs to confirm the severity of it.