Luka Doncic Ruled Out for Game 4 as Okc Vs Lakers Turns Must-Win

Luka Doncic was ruled out for Game 4 of okc vs lakers on Monday night, removing one of the Lakers’ top options as they tried to extend their season. He was unavailable because of a left hamstring strain.

LeBron James and Austin Reaves

The Lakers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals and entered down 0-3 after losing Game 3 at home on Saturday night. That made Monday night a must-have result if they wanted to force Game 5 back to Oklahoma City.

Without Doncic, the Lakers were expected to lean heavily on LeBron James and Austin Reaves for much of the offense. Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard could also take on larger roles while the lineup adjusts around his absence.

Doncic’s Playoff Absence

Doncic had already been sidelined for the entirety of the playoffs because of the same left hamstring strain, so Game 4 extended a stretch that has left the Lakers without him in the series’ biggest moments. The absence also meant the Lakers continued into elimination territory without one of the players they would normally use to change the game’s pace.

Game 4 was scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video, with the Lakers needing the kind of clean offensive night they did not get in Game 3. A defeat would end their season, while a win would send the series back to Oklahoma City with the Thunder still leading 3-1.