Lakers Star Luka Dončić Leaves Game with Hamstring Injury

Injury could impact Dončić's chances at postseason MVP honors.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:22pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player driving to the hoop, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in deep purple, royal blue, and crimson red tones.Luka Dončić's hamstring injury could derail the Lakers' playoff hopes and his MVP campaign.Oklahoma City Today

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić left Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with an apparent hamstring injury. The injury could keep the MVP contender from postseason honors.

Why it matters

Dončić is one of the NBA's biggest stars and a leading MVP candidate. Any significant injury this late in the season could derail his chances at winning the award and leading the Lakers deep into the playoffs.

The details

Dončić exited the game in the third quarter after appearing to tweak his hamstring. Hamstring injuries can be tricky and often require multiple weeks of recovery, putting Dončić's status for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs in jeopardy.

  • Dončić left the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, April 3, 2026 in the third quarter.

The players

Luka Dončić

A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers and leading MVP candidate in the 2025-26 NBA season.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The opposing team that the Lakers were playing when Dončić suffered his injury.

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What they’re saying

“Luka is such a vital part of our team's success. We'll have to wait and see the severity of this injury, but it's certainly concerning with the playoffs right around the corner.”

— Frank Vogel, Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers

What’s next

The Lakers will provide an update on the severity of Dončić's hamstring injury in the coming days. If it's a significant strain, he could miss multiple weeks and jeopardize his chances at postseason MVP honors.

The takeaway

Dončić's injury is a major blow to the Lakers' championship aspirations and his individual accolades. Hamstring issues can be tricky, and the team will have to carefully manage his recovery to ensure he's healthy for the playoffs.