Lakers Prepare for Playoffs Without Doncic, Reaves

Injuries will keep star players sidelined as Lakers face Rockets in first round

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in Lakers gold, purple, and Rockets red, conveying the challenge the Lakers face without their injured stars.The Lakers face an uphill battle in the playoffs without their top two scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.El Segundo Today

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without their top two scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, as they begin their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets. Both players remain out indefinitely with injuries, leaving the Lakers shorthanded heading into the postseason.

Why it matters

The Lakers are hoping to make a deep playoff run, but the absences of Doncic and Reaves will make that task much more difficult. The team will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the scoring void left by their injured stars.

The details

Doncic, the Lakers' leading scorer, and Reaves, their second-leading scorer, have both been sidelined with undisclosed injuries. The team has not provided a timeline for their returns, leaving their status uncertain as the playoffs begin.

  • The Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Rockets begins on April 16, 2026.

The players

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' leading scorer, who remains out indefinitely with an injury.

Austin Reaves

The Lakers' second-leading scorer, who also remains out indefinitely with an injury.

Houston Rockets

The Lakers' first-round playoff opponent.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to have to find a way to win without our two best scorers. It's going to be a challenge, but we're up for it.”

— LeBron James, Lakers Forward

What’s next

The Lakers and Rockets will tip off their first-round playoff series on April 16, 2026.

The takeaway

The Lakers' playoff hopes have taken a hit with the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, but the team will need to find a way to overcome these absences and rally around their remaining players if they want to make a deep postseason run.