E don happen again for Luka Doncic. The superstar wey dey play for Los Angeles Lakers don collect hamstring injury wey go make am miss the rest of the regular season. Na Grade 2 hamstring strain wey im carry from the game against Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. Coach JJ Redick don talk say im goal na to come back, but na only if the team fit extend the season reach playoff.
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Redick wey be former ESPN analyst, im talk say im ask Doncic directly at halftime if im fit continue. “He was cleared to play, I asked him directly, and he wanted to go for it in the second half,” Redick yarn. This kind thing no new for Doncic. For 2022, im get calf strain for last regular season game, miss first three games of Utah series, but Dallas still reach Western Conference Finals.
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Now, this injury don bring another wahala. Doncic season stop at 64 games. NBA rule say player must play at least 65 games to qualify for MVP or all-league teams. Im agent, Bill Duffy, don beg NBA for exception because Doncic miss two games for the birth of im second child for Europe. But the 16th technical foul wey make am miss one game no dey part of the appeal.
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Coach Jason Kidd talk say e unfortunate. “Luka is having an MVP season. He was playing at a very, very high level and for him to get hurt and not to get rewarded for that season is unfortunate.” Some people dey suggest say make NBA give am one extra game with zero stats just to meet the 65-game requirement. If dem do am, im averages go small drop from 33.5 points to 33.0 points, but e go qualify am.
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But Doncic injury no be the only problem wey dey worry Lakers. Austin Reaves too don get oblique injury wey go make am miss the rest of the regular season. Marcus Smart dey manage right ankle contusion, while Jarred Vanderbilt just dey come back from calf soreness. With two of their top players out, Lakers dey look at rough road ahead.
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LeBron James now go need to carry more load. The man wey don enjoy being third option this season go need to become main guy again. Lakers dey hold third position for Western Conference with 50-27 record, but Denver Nuggets dey hot on their tail with eight straight wins. Houston Rockets with Kevin Durant dey win five straight games too.
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For Dallas Mavericks side, Cooper Flagg just drop 51 points for Friday game against Orlando Magic. But the team record still dey 24-53. Marvin Bagley III dey probable with shoulder injury, while Caleb Martin, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II no go play again this season.
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The game between Lakers and Mavericks go hold Sunday night for American Airlines Center. NBC and Peacock go show am live from 7:30 p.m. ET. With Doncic and Reaves no dey available, Rui Hachimura and Jake LaRavia go get chance to show wetin dem sabi do.
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Lakers get only four games remain after Sunday. Dem go face Thunder again on Tuesday, then Warriors for April 9, Suns for April 10, and Jazz for regular season finale. If dem want maintain third position, dem need to win all these games.
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This injury come just as Doncic dey have im best month ever. For March, im score 600 points – something wey only Michael Jordan don do before. Im lead Lakers to 15-2 record for the month, help the team climb to number three position for West.
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Now the question dey: fit Lakers survive without their two stars? Redick talk say im job na to extend the season so Doncic fit return for playoff. But with Denver and Houston dey press from behind, e no go easy at all.
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