Luka Doncic suffers hamstring strain as Los Angeles Lakers lose to Thunder
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic exited Thursday’s heavy defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder early after suffering a strained left hamstring.
The prolific scorer initially appeared to tweak the muscle late in the first half before aggravating the issue midway through the third quarter.
Visibly in pain, the Slovenian international doubled over and lay on the baseline with his hands covering his face following a team timeout.
Teammates quickly surrounded the injured guard before he gingerly walked to the locker room unassisted with nearly eight minutes remaining in the third period.
Nightmarish outing halts stellar momentum
Prior to his premature departure, the dynamic playmaker endured a remarkably frustrating evening on the court.
He departed the contest having registered just 12 points on three-for-10 shooting, while the visitors were outscored by 25 points during his 26 minutes of action.
The setback marks a stark contrast to a sensational March where he secured Western Conference Player of the Month honours.
Throughout that prolific period, the Los Angeles talisman averaged 37.5 points and guided his franchise to an impressive 15-2 record.
MVP battle overshadowed by injury concern
This highly anticipated fixture was billed as a crucial showcase in the ongoing Most Valuable Player race.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ultimately dominated the marquee matchup, tallying 28 points and seven assists through three quarters.
As the defending NBA champions secured a comfortable victory, questions now surround the title credentials of the vanquished Lakers.
A potential prolonged absence for their key offensive engine could severely impact their upcoming playoff campaign.