LAKERS STAR Luka Don膷i膰 is expected to return to Los Angeles (LA) on Friday after receiving specialized treatment for his Grade 2 left hamstring strain in Europe, ESPN reported on Monday, though when he will return to game action remains unknown.

The 27-year-old reportedly spent a week in Spain receiving multiple injections for the injury sustained in a 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.

The team announced the next day after an MRI that he will miss at least the remainder of the regular season. The Lakers have not shared any further updates on Don膷i膰鈥檚 return since the initial announcement.

The typical recovery timeline for a Grade 2 hamstring strain is a month. That would keep the league鈥檚 leading scorer (33.5 points per game) and Los Angeles鈥 leader in assists (8.3) and steals (1.6) out for potentially the entire first round of the playoffs.

The No. 4 seed Lakers are set to kick off their first-round series on Saturday against the No. 5 seed Houston Rockets.

The Lakers are also without Austin Reaves (23.3 ppg, 5.5 apg) after he sustained a Grade 2 left oblique injury. He鈥檚 expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

Los Angeles finished the season, 3-2, after the loss of Don膷i膰 and Reaves. 鈥 Reuters

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