For the past month, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans have been living in a dream.
Luka Doncic was dropping 40-plus points a night. LeBron James was fighting Father Time and beating him up regularly. Fans began to believe they could actually contend for an NBA championship.
Then Thursday happened.
The Lakers traveled to Oklahoma City to play the defending champions, the Thunder, and before the first quarter was over, the game was finished.
Oklahoma City took the Lakers’ hot streak and extinguished it in a single half, going up by 30 while Doncic failed to do anything against their defense.
And if things couldn’t get worse, with the game already out of doubt, the Slovenian superstar went down in a heap and looked in serious pain following a hamstring injury.
More news: Luka Doncic Reportedly Separates from Partner Amid Hollywood Dating Rumors
More news: Charles Barkley Is Wrong — Lakers’ Luka Doncic Should Be NBA MVP
Doncic hobbled off the court, and the weeks of good times for the Lakers turned into a nightmare in the span of two hours.
Fans were quick to melt down on social media following Doncic’s exit, along with the Thunder’s shellacking.
While there is no official diagnosis at this time, Lakers fans from Los Angeles to Shanghai are holding their breath at Doncic’s status.
The Lakers have a few days off following Thursday’s game against the Thunder, then play the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic’s former team, on Sunday.
Oklahoma City will travel to Los Angeles next Tuesday in a rematch of tonight’s blowout.
