The Los Angeles Lakers managed to get past the Houston Rockets in the first round without their superstar, Luka Doncic, and largely without Austin Reaves, who played only one win in that series. But replicating that success against the reigning NBA champions? That's a whole different ball game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this Western Conference semifinals matchup looking like the most dominant team in the league. They completed the only sweep of the first round, powered by electrifying performances from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. While the Thunder have their own injury concerns—missing Jalen Williams to start the series—the Lakers are still without one of the NBA's elite playmakers as they try to dethrone the top seed.

Here's everything you need to know about Doncic's injury and when he might finally return to the court.

The Injury Timeline

Doncic suffered a hamstring injury on April 2 in a loss to the Thunder and was initially ruled out indefinitely. Reports indicate he's dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, a significant injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season and the entire first-round series against the Rockets. He never appeared close to returning during that series, and more than a month later, he still isn't ready.

Status vs. Thunder

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Doncic will not be available at the start of the Lakers' series against Oklahoma City. The news gets more concerning: Doncic remains on a "slow path" to recovery. As of Sunday, just two days before the series opener, the Lakers star was "still not full-fledged running or doing full-contact workouts."

That doesn't mean Doncic is out for the entire series, but it does mean the Lakers will have to dig deep without their floor general for at least the early games. For fans hoping to see the Luka Magic in action, patience remains the name of the game—and for now, the Lakers' playoff hopes rest on LeBron James and Anthony Davis stepping up once again.