Luka Dončić to Miss Start of Series, Anthony Edwards Targets Game 3 Return
Luka Dončić is expected to sit out Game 1 against Oklahoma City as he works back from a hamstring injury. He still hasn’t gone through full-contact work, and the team is labeling him week to week. That usually means there’s no clear timetable, just checkpoints.
For the Lakers, that’s a rough way to open the second round. Dončić has already been out close to a month, and now they could be starting a playoff series without the player who organizes their offense and creates easy looks. LeBron James can carry more of that load, but against a deep, fast Thunder team, that alone won’t cover everything.
Game 1 tips off May 5. Without Dončić, the margin for error shrinks. A few empty trips, a cold stretch from the perimeter, or a lapse on defense can flip a game quickly, especially against a team that punishes mistakes.
Minnesota’s situation feels a little easier to stomach. Anthony Edwards is reportedly eyeing Game 3 against San Antonio after dealing with the knee issue, and at least he’s back with the team and doing some work again. Game 1 still seems unlikely.
There’s no real reason to force it. Edwards carries too much of the offense, and pushing him back too soon could turn a short absence into a much bigger problem. He averaged over 30 points against the Spurs in the regular season, so once he’s back, this series may feel completely different.
For now, both series hinge on who can steady things early. The Lakers need to stay afloat until Dončić is ready. The Timberwolves just need to keep things close until Edwards returns. Depth isn’t just a talking point at this stage. It’s what decides who gets through the first week in one piece.
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