How Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury impacts Lakers playoff picture, NBA MVP race and more

How Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury impacts Lakers playoff picture, NBA MVP race and more originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Lakers will be without their talisman to finish the regular season.

They'll wait with bated breath to see if that absence lasts longer. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles' supernova who has, alongside LeBron James, powered the Lakers to the third-best record in the Western Conference thus far, was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season Friday, one day after going down with a left hamstring injury against the Thunder . The ailment -- the second Doncic has suffered to his left hamstring since the start of the regular season -- spells an end to a glistening campaign for the point guard, who led the league in scoring for the second time in his career.

Doncic emerged as a dark-horse MVP candidate towards the end of the year, lighting up the stat sheet for one of the NBA's best teams in 2026. His absence looms large on a Los Angeles team not yet fixed to its postseason seeding. It also could prevent Doncic from hoisting a bit of hardware come the end of the regular season.

Here's what you need to know about the consequences of Doncic's injury, as well as a potential timetable for his return. SN's NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule How long is Luka Doncic out? Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular season with his injury, although a timetable for his return remains unknown.