Luka Doncic is still watching from the sideline, and for the Los Angeles Lakers, that reality is getting harder to manage by the day. The Lakers dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals 108-90 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, with Doncic nowhere near the floor.
He has been out since suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain against the Thunder on April 2, ending what had been an MVP-level first full season in Los Angeles. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, which marks exactly five weeks since that injury. The reigning champions, led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are not making things easier on a Lakers team already running short on answers.
Speaking publicly for the first time since going down, Doncic opened up with ESPN's Dave McMenamin and didn't hide how difficult the situation has been. There's no set return date, and he made that clear. The hardest part, he said, has been watching instead of being out there.
"Doing everything he can" only goes so far when contact drills haven't even started yet. Here's a look at where this series could go depending on how Doncic's recovery plays out.
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Best Case: Doncic Returns and Changes the Series
The version Lakers fans are holding onto is a Game 3 return at Crypto.com Arena. If Los Angeles can stay competitive in Game 2 and keep the series from slipping completely, getting Doncic back for the home stand reshapes everything.
Even operating at less than full capacity, he commands double teams and opens the floor for LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, while also creating looks for Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart.
In this scenario, his return breathes life into a team that has been grinding without its best player and turns this into a six or seven-game fight. If he beats the eight-week projection and gets back within the next few days, the Lakers suddenly have a real shot at pulling off the upset.
Worst Case: The Thunder Close It Out Before He's Ready
The other version is harder to look at. Doncic himself acknowledged he hasn't started contact drills yet, which is typically the last step before a player is cleared to suit up. If he's still out through the weekend, Oklahoma City has every opportunity to pull away and make this series a short one.
A 3-0 or even 4-0 lead for the Thunder becomes very realistic against a Luka-less Lakers lineup. In that scenario, Los Angeles gets eliminated before Doncic ever gets cleared for a full practice, and their massive investment in the Slovenian star ends with him watching the season close out from behind the bench.
The Lakers are already in a difficult spot. The Thunder are fast, deep and defending a championship. Time is working against Los Angeles, and right now it's the one thing Doncic can't do much about.
