Redick is prepping to be without his two stars for the foreseeable future.
The Los Angeles Lakers held their first official practice ahead of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, but head coach JJ Redick didn't bring the news anyone wanted to hear when it came to his two best scorers.
"They're out indefinitely," Redick told reporters. "I'm not going to have an update for you this week. They're out indefinitely."
That was it.
No timeline, no optimism, nothing for the media or the fanbase to hold onto heading into a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets that starts Saturday.
What the Lakers Are Missing
Luka Doncic has been out since April 2 after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game across 64 games this season, leading the league in scoring while anchoring the Lakers' offense in ways nobody else on the roster can replicate.
He flew to Spain shortly after the injury to undergo specialized treatment, including multiple injections to speed up recovery, and is expected to return to Los Angeles this week.
Austin Reaves went down with a Grade 2 left oblique strain in the same game. He put together a career year, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 51 games.
He was at the facility on Tuesday and shot free throws after practice while wearing slides, but that doesn't change the reality.
The timeline for both injuries falls in the four-to-six week range, which means neither player is likely suiting up for Game 1 and possibly the entire first round.
Together, Doncic and Reaves accounted for roughly 56.8 combined points per game. Losing both at the same time is a devastating blow for a team that finished 53-29 and earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
The Schedule Could Help
There is one small silver lining in all of this, and it comes down to the calendar.
The NBA released the full first-round schedule on Tuesday night and the Lakers' series against the 52-30 Rockets has built-in gaps that could work in their favor.
Game 1 is Saturday, April 18. Game 2 isn't until Tuesday, April 21. Then Game 3 in Houston doesn't come until Friday, April 24.
Those rest days matter right now.
Every extra day between games is another day of treatment and recovery for Doncic and Reaves, and another day closer to the four-to-six week window where both players could potentially be cleared.
If the Lakers can extend this series and survive early, there's a real chance at least one of them returns before it's over.
The burden falls on LeBron James and a supporting cast of role players who will need to find answers against Kevin Durant and a Rockets team that won eight straight games to close the regular season.
Redick knows the challenge, and his job between now and Saturday is getting this group ready for playoff basketball without their two most important weapons.