Luka Dončić ruled out for Game 1 vs. Thunder — Grade 2 hamstring keeps Lakers shorthanded

The Lakers walk into the Western Conference semifinals one star down. Luka Dončić will not play Game 1 against the Thunder tonight in Oklahoma City, the team announced Monday — a Grade 2 left hamstring strain he originally suffered on April 2 in a regular-season loss to this same Thunder team.

Doncic has returned to limited practice but hasn't been cleared for full-contact work, and the Lakers are evaluating him week to week. JJ Redick told reporters Monday he had no further update. Tipoff is 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock from Paycom Center. The Lakers got past Houston in six in Round 1; the Thunder swept Phoenix and have been waiting almost a full week.

This was always going to be the toughest matchup on the bracket. OKC is the No. 1 seed, MVP-caliber Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is rolling, and the Lakers' best counter is Luka and LeBron in the same pick-and-roll. With Luka in street clothes, that math gets ugly fast. He's the difference between this being a series and this being a sweep — and tonight, the Lakers find out which one without him.