Luka Doncic exited in the third quarter against the OKC Thunder on Thursday due to a left hamstring injury. The LA Lakers point guard writhed in pain after he tried to drive past Thunder forward Jalen Williams. After staying on the floor for a few minutes, Doncic gingerly left the court.
After the postgame interview, The Athletic’s Dan Woike tweeted:
“JJ Redick said Luka Doncic was cleared to play in the second half after tweaking his hamstring in the first half.”
Doncic and Co. struggled badly against the Thunder’s bruising defense, execution on both ends and pace. After two quarters, the Lakers already trailed 82-51. The Slovenian finished the first half with 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting, including 1-for-7 from 3-point distance. Doncic made 5 of 6 free-throw attempts to get his tally.
Lakers coach JJ Redick likely thought the team could still turn the game around, hence the decision to play Doncic in the first half. Redick also emphasized that Doncic was “checked” and “worked on” before receiving the green light to play the point guard.
The decision could be costly as a disappointing night turned into a disastrous one. Doncic’s injury could cause him to miss the entire playoffs.
Fans Slam JJ Redick for Playing Luka Doncic After Superstar Point Guard Tweaked His Left Hamstring
The news that JJ Redick played Luka Doncic despite the superstar point guard tweaking his left hamstring quickly gained traction. Fans couldn’t hold back in their reactions to Redick’s decision. One fan wrote:
“It was a 30-point game. Just because he was cleared to play doesn’t mean he should have played.”
Another fan added:
“Down 30? A week before the playoffs? As a 3 seed? WTF.”
One more fan continued:
“And we send him back out there. Shoulda took note from the Cavs and just pulled them out early.”
Another fan commented:
“Malpractice from coaching staff. This should cause people their job.”
One fan tweeted:
“JJ is an idiot.”
Doncic suffered a mild hamstring injury in early February, forcing him to sit out for a little over two weeks. Because of that history and due to the massive deficit LA tried to overcome, fans slammed Redick’s decision to keep Doncic playing.
With the first round of the playoffs starting on April 18, Doncic’s availability will now depend on the severity of his injury. If he ruptured or tore a muscle, he could be out for three months, ending the Slovenian’s season.
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