The Los Angeles Lakers didn't just lose Thursday night, but they got dominated by the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who escaped with a convincing 139-96 victory. And the damage can be calculated in two ways.
First, for a No. 3 seed in the West, losing by 43 points is a massive embarrassment. Second, and more importantly, Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury has the entire Conference on edge.
But when Doncic was murmuring in pain on the floor, his teammate Austin Reaves had a verbal confrontation with a courtside OKC heckler who was making fun of Doncic's non-contact injury.
Austin Reaves Demands Minimum Respect From Courtside Heckler
Doncic suffered a left hamstring injury in the third quarter after planting his leg to drive against Jalen Williams. He exited with 7:39 remaining in the third while the Lakers trailed 90–58.
As medical staff and teammates surrounded Doncic, the fan shouted, “Now you don’t have to play defense.” Reaves immediately fired back, telling the fan to “shut the [expletive] up” because Doncic was actually hurt. Reaves continued to demand respect for his injured teammate even after Doncic limped off the floor.
Their heated exchange has since turned viral online, with many praising Reaves for sticking up for his teammate. But it was a rough night for him otherwise.
He had four turnovers in a disastrous first quarter where OKC jumped out to a 44-21 lead. He finished with 15 points in 27 minutes and sat out the entire fourth quarter while dealing with visible back pain.
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Doncic, who had scored over 40 points in each of his previous three games, finished with just 12 points and six turnovers. This is the same left hamstring that caused him to miss four games in February.
He originally suffered the strain on Feb. 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers, sat out the Lakers’ final four games before the All-Star break, and made only a limited token appearance in the All-Star Game.
There is also a significant awards eligibility wrinkle since he has played in 64 games this season and needs to appear in at least one more game to remain eligible for end-of-season honors, including MVP consideration. Missing extended time now could cost him a chance at major individual recognition.
However, the Purple and Gold are scheduled to face the Dallas Mavericks on the road with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. Friday’s MRI results will determine whether Doncic makes the trip or begins an extensive rehab program to ensure he is ready for the playoffs.
If it shows anything more than a minor aggravation, the Lakers will need LeBron James, Reaves, and the supporting cast to carry a heavier load while Doncic recovers.
