Luka Doncic's chance for revenge on the Mavericks is slipping away fast

The Los Angeles Lakers lost another game to the Houston Rockets without Luka Doncic last night, and Houston has extended this series to Game 6 after once trailing 3-0. This series would obviously be much different if Doncic were in the lineup alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves, but his return to the hardwood from his hamstring injury still has a way to go.

Luka Doncic's return still isn't close

Earlier this week, ESPN's Shams Charania stated Doncic would miss the entire series against the Oklahoma City Thunder if the Lakers were to advance past the Rockets. This immediately caused Luka fans to panic, as there once seemed to be hope for a return against OKC.

Many Dallas Mavericks fans remain Luka Doncic fans as well, and while most Mavs fans are rooting for Doncic and the Lakers, a deep playoff run for Los Angeles would pour salt into Dallas' wound that is still open following the trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers. Cooper Flagg's spectacular rookie season helped heal some of the pain that came with seeing Doncic in purple and gold, but there will always be a Luka-sized hole in the hearts of Mavericks fans.

This was Doncic's chance to stick it to the Dallas Mavericks and prove that they should've never traded him. Dallas took down the Thunder in the 2024 NBA Playoffs with Doncic and P.J. Washington leading the way, and Doncic leading his new team past the best team in the Western Conference would've been a major gut punch for the Mavericks.

While Charania later changed his reporting on Doncic and his potential return, saying that he is out to start the series rather than the entire series, he still doesn't have a timeline to return. Doncic's return is nowhere near imminent, and unfortunately for the Lakers, "it is a slow path on his recovery," according to Charania.

New reporting still doesn't change his timeline

Every game that the Lakers play gives Doncic more time to recover, but time is about to run out. They have to beat Houston in one of the next two games to avoid elimination, and even if they make it past the Kevin Durant-less Rockets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will be waiting for them.

Los Angeles is a completely different team without Doncic at the head of the snake, and while he's going to be itching to get back on the court to help his team, the Lakers aren't going to rush anything. Soft-tissue injuries are no joke, and LA's standing in the series likely won't affect his return. They can't afford to rush their $160 million man back, regardless of circumstances, and this series against the Thunder won't be any different.

Charania's new report at least gave Luka fans some hope, but Doncic making a show-stopping return to help David slay Goliath is still not near.

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