InFrame

NBA Scoring Leader Luka Doncic to Miss Rest of Lakers' Regular Season With Hamstring Strain

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is fouled by Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) as Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, helps defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

by Greg Beacham  12 hours ago

Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers' regular season with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, the team announced Friday.

Doncic is the NBA's top scorer and the driving force behind the Lakers' surge into the third spot in the Western Conference standings, but he injured his leg during Los Angeles' blowout loss in Oklahoma City on Thursday. An MRI exam revealed the severity of the strain.

The Pacific Division champion Lakers (50-27) have just five games left before the postseason, starting Sunday at Dallas.

Grade 2 hamstring strains sometimes require several weeks of recovery, but Doncic also has prior experience with hamstring issues. He missed four games right before the All-Star break with another left hamstring strain, but returned to the lineup after the break.

Doncic is putting up spectacular numbers in his first full season with the Lakers, who acquired the Slovenian superstar from the Mavericks last season. He is averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game for Los Angeles, and he was named the NBA's Western Conference player of the month for March after racking up 13 consecutive 30-point performances, including seven 40-point games, a 51-point barrage against Chicago and a 60-point masterclass in Miami.

Doncic scored a whopping 600 points in March, becoming only the 10th player in NBA history to hit that mark in one month. While LeBron James and Austin Reaves have also played well down the stretch, the Lakers thoroughly depend on Doncic, who either scored or assisted on 58% of the their total points in March.

Doncic is all but certain to win his second NBA scoring title — but he has played in only 64 games this season, which means he will finish one game shy of the 65-game threshold to be eligible for the NBA's biggest postseason awards.

He was a lock to be an All-NBA selection, and he had even been making a late run at consideration for the MVP award with his outstanding play down the stretch.

Along with his two absences caused by hamstring injuries and a handful of additional absences for minor medical maintenance early in the season, Doncic missed two games last December while flying to Slovenia for the birth of his second child. He also missed one game last week under suspension for accumulating 16 technical fouls.

Since he sits just shy of the 65-game threshold, Doncic theoretically could challenge the rule by citing the extraordinary circumstances of his daughter's birth in Europe through the grievance process created for these collectively bargained rules. It's wholly unclear whether that appeal would have any chance of success.

If Doncic wins the scoring title but doesn't make the All-NBA teams, he would be only the third scoring champ in league history to fail to do so. Elvin Hayes wasn't selected when he won the crown as a rookie in 1969, and Bob McAdoo wasn't chosen for the teams in 1976.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said Doncic was injured in the first half against the Thunder, but was cleared to return to the game while his team was getting plastered by the defending NBA champion Thunder. Doncic lasted only about four minutes before he spun, stopped and went down on the court in pain, leading to his departure.

The loss was only the Lakers' third in 19 games since Feb. 26, but Doncic's absence casts a cloud of uncertainty over the rest of their year. Los Angeles only leads fourth-place Denver (49-28) by one game, while sixth-place Minnesota (46-30) is 3 1/2 games back with a game in hand.

The Lakers’ regular-season finale is next Sunday, April 12, at home against Utah. Their first-round playoff series is expected to start the following weekend.

Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Newlyweds Chaz Bono and Shara Blue Mathes Celebrate Romantic Honeymoon in Hawaii

Photo Credit: Shara Blue Bono/Instagram

by Chris Tremblay  9 hours ago

Chaz Bono, the son of entertainment icon Cher and the late Sonny Bono, and Shara Blue Mathes have embarked on a romantic honeymoon in  Hawaii  after tying the knot earlier this year. The couple, who exchanged vows in a "Hollywood Glam Formal" ceremony at  The Hollywood Roosevelt  on March 8, 2026, arrived in the Aloha State to celebrate their new marriage with scenic beach outings and relaxed moments together.

'Six: The Musical' Live Filmed Version Sets 2026 Theatrical Release Date

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

by Chris Tremblay  10 hours ago

The producers of "Six: The Musical" have announced that a filmed live version of the production will hit theaters in 2026.

Bruce Hornsby Looks Back With New Album 'Indigo Park' That Mixes Simplicity and Complexity

Musician Bruce Hornsby performs at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 14, 2013. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File

by Mark Kennedy  Apr 3

Bruce Hornsby's new, reflective album starts off sweetly and melodically, a musician looking back at a fascinating life. Then it gets weird. That's by design.

Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 18: Forward Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics drives toward the hoop with forward Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks close behind during a game at Staples Center on June 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Photo Credit: Katharine Lotze

by Chris Tremblay  11 hours ago

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees were reportedly revealed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, with the official announcement scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2026, during the NCAA Final Four weekend. WNBA icons  Candace Parker  and  Elena Delle Donne  headline the class, which also includes NBA coach Doc Rivers and former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire. The selection recognizes Parker’s dominance as a three-time WNBA champion and Finals MVP, alongside Delle Donne’s achievements as a two-time league MVP and Olympic gold medalist. 

Man Previously Arrested for Stalking Billie Eilish Killed by Train in Westbury, New York

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 17: Billie Eilish accepts the Environmental Justice Award onstage during the 2026 King Holiday Observance: 2026 MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Awards at Hyatt Regency Atlanta on January 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo Credit: Paras Griffin

by Chris Tremblay  12 hours ago

Prenell Rousseau, 30, died after being struck by a westbound Long Island Rail Road train in Westbury, New York, at approximately 5:38 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Authorities reported that Rousseau was jogging on or near the tracks when the incident occurred, and they have ruled it an apparent accident with no indication of foul play.

Swedish Pop Icon Robyn Opens Up About IVF Journey and Embracing Single Motherhood in Her 40s

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Robyn visits SiriusXM Studios on January 07, 2026 in New York City. Photo Credit: Michael Loccisano

by Chris Tremblay  Apr 3

Swedish pop superstar Robyn, known for timeless hits like "Dancing on My Own," has candidly revealed her journey to single motherhood via IVF, calling it a "fing rollercoaster*" in a recent interview with The Guardian. This disclosure, made as she promotes her 2026 album Sexistential, details her decision in her 40s to pursue parenthood independently after realizing conventional relationship timelines did not align with her vision.

Andy Weir Issues Apology to 'Star Trek' Producer Alex Kurtzman After Calling Modern Shows "Shit"

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Andy Weir attends "Project Hail Mary" New York premiere at Lincoln Center on March 18, 2026 in New York City. Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris

by Chris Tremblay  Apr 3

Author Andy Weir, best known for his bestselling novel "The Martian" and its follow-up "Project Hail Mary", has issued a public apology to Alex Kurtzman, executive producer of several modern Star Trek series, after referring to recent iterations of the franchise as "shit" during a podcast interview.

Tori Spelling and Drew Barrymore Share On-Air Kiss, Propose 'Three-Way' Smooch with Matt Bomer

Photo Credit: CBS

by Chris Tremblay  Apr 3

On March 30, 2026, during a taping of The Drew Barrymore Show in Beverly Hills, California, host Drew Barrymore and guest Tori Spelling shared an unexpected on-camera kiss that quickly evolved into playful banter about including actor Matt Bomer.

'Price Is Right' Producer Defends Bob Barker Amid Allegations of Racism and Harassment in New Docuseries

Photo Credit: E

by Chris Tremblay  Apr 3

Former Executive Producer Roger Dobkowitz has publicly defended Bob Barker in response to serious allegations of racism leveled against the late host in the E! docuseries Dirty Rotten Scandals. Dobkowitz, who worked on the show for 36 years, dismissed the series as a "hit piece," claiming the set was a "happy place" and that the accusers were a small group of "unhappy" former employees. Meanwhile, producer Phil Wayne remains a central figure in the allegations, with former models claiming he contributed to a toxic environment.