Overview
- Reports Monday placed Dončić in Spain for an injection to treat his Grade 2 left hamstring strain after both he and Reaves were ruled out for the rest of the regular season.
- Reaves has a Grade 2 left oblique strain with several outlets citing a four-to-six week window that could keep him out into the first round.
- Coach JJ Redick said the goal is to extend the season so the guards can return, and the Lakers are shifting rotations to lean on LeBron James and role players.
- Medical voices caution that hamstring and oblique strains often need about a month to heal and warn that accelerated returns and experimental treatments carry re-injury risk.
- Dončić will finish with 64 games and is ineligible for MVP and All-NBA under the 65-game rule, and his agent has said he intends to seek an Extraordinary Circumstances review.