The Los Angeles Lakers will open their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets as pretty big underdogs, since they’re without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic and Reaves sustained a strained hamstring and oblique, respectively, in an April 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the recovery period for both was initially expected to be roughly four to six weeks.
Doncic reportedly headed to Spain to receive treatment for his strained hamstring, and he’s expected to return to Los Angeles on Friday. If any Lakers fans may have been hoping for an earlier-than-expected return by either star, coach JJ Redick seemed to put that to rest by saying both are out “indefinitely,” per ESPN.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Redick said. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week. They’re out indefinitely.”
L.A.’s playoff series against Kevin Durant and crew begins this Saturday. While L.A. will have home-court advantage as the Western Conference’s fourth seed, it will have to really work to generate enough offense in order to have a real shot at advancing.
While Houston was 18th in points during the regular season, it was eighth in offensive rating, as well as first in offensive rebounding percentage. The Lakers will have to find a way to make the most of their offensive possessions, especially since the Rockets excel at getting second shot opportunities.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out ‘indefinitely’
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
