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The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Luka Dončić to start their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Shams Charania.

Speaking on a program, Charania revealed that Dončić is expected to miss Game 1 as he continues to work his way back from injury. While he has increased his on-court activity, he has yet to participate in full-contact workouts, signaling a cautious recovery timeline.

Dončić, who captured the scoring title this season, averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 64 games, serving as a central force for Los Angeles.

The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals after eliminating the Houston Rockets in six games and will now open their series on the road on May 6 against the defending champions.

Adding an ironic twist, Dončić’s hamstring injury originally occurred during a regular-season matchup against the Thunder on April 3—the same team he now races to return against.