Is Luka Doncic playing for the Lakers in Game 2 vs. the Rockets?

The Los Angeles Lakers started the 2026 NBA Playoffs on a strong note with a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 at Crypto. com Arena on Saturday, thanks in large part to a 19-point, 13-assist, eight-assist effort from LeBron James and a 27-point spark from Luke Kennard. It was exactly the kind of game that the Lakers needed to play, and it's one that they'll have to continue to replicate in the first round without the presence of Luka Doncic .

Doncic has been out since April 2 with a grade 2 left hamstring strain, sustaining the injury late in the Lakers' blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After undergoing an MRI, Doncic was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. Before going down, Doncic was playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading the league with 33.

5 points per game while averaging 8. 3 assists and 7. 7 rebounds per game.

Despite finishing outside of the top three in NBA MVP voting, Doncic is still in line to receive All-NBA honors. Doncic returned to the team on Friday ahead of Game 1 after undergoing an injection procedure in his left hamstring in an attempt to accelerate his return from the usual 4-6 timeline, but as of Tuesday morning, an update on Doncic's status remains to be seen. “They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters last week, referring to both Doncic and Austin Reaves.