Lakers Lose Top Scorers Dončić and Reaves for Rest of Regular Season

L.A. must overcome adversity as they take on the struggling Mavericks without their two leading offensive threats.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:26pm

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The Los Angeles Lakers will be without their top two scorers, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, for the remainder of the regular season due to injuries. Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, while Reaves has a Grade 2 left oblique injury. The Lakers will look to LeBron James and the rest of the team to step up and fill the offensive void left by the absences of their leading scorers.

Why it matters

The Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, going 15-2 in March, but the loss of Dončić and Reaves is a major setback. The Lakers are still firmly in the third spot in the Western Conference, but the Nuggets are now just a half-game behind them. The Lakers can't afford to lose ground to their conference rivals, especially against a struggling Mavericks team they should be able to beat.

The details

The Lakers will take on the Mavericks on Sunday, April 5th, in their first game without Dončić and Reaves. The Mavericks have had a tough season, with a 24-53 record and the second-worst offense in the NBA. However, they have a bright spot in rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, who recently scored 51 points in a game. The Lakers will need to avoid slow starts and turnovers, which plagued them in their last game against the Thunder. They'll also need to dominate the boards, as the Mavericks give up the second-most rebounds per game.

  • Luka Dončić suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will miss the rest of the regular season.
  • Austin Reaves has a Grade 2 left oblique injury and will also miss the rest of the regular season.
  • The Lakers and Mavericks will face off on Sunday, April 5th, at 4:30 p.m. PT.

The players

Luka Dončić

The Mavericks' star player and the NBA's leading scorer, averaging 33.5 points per game, will miss the rest of the regular season due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

Austin Reaves

The Lakers' second-leading scorer, averaging 15.3 points per game, will also miss the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 left oblique injury.

Cooper Flagg

The Mavericks' rookie sensation, who recently scored 51 points in a game, has been a bright spot for the struggling team this season.

LeBron James

The Lakers' veteran leader will need to step up and lead the team in the absence of Dončić and Reaves.

Deandre Ayton

The Lakers' center has been a bright spot on the offensive glass and will need to continue his strong play to help the team overcome the loss of their top scorers.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to overcome this adversity and keep our momentum going. This is a tough blow, but we have to stay focused and rely on our depth and experience to get through it.”

— LeBron James, Lakers Forward

“It's been a tough season for us, but Cooper has been a bright spot. We're going to need him to continue his strong play as we try to finish the season strong.”

— Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach

What’s next

The Lakers will return home to face the Thunder on Tuesday, April 7th, as they look to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings without Dončić and Reaves.

The takeaway

The Lakers' loss of their top two scorers, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, is a significant setback, but it also presents an opportunity for the team's depth and experience to shine. LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers will need to step up and fill the offensive void left by the injuries, as they look to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings and make a deep playoff run.