Stephen A. Smith drops ‘going home in April’ prediction for Lakers without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves

Stephen A. Smith was brutal with his take on the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff chances following the injuries toward Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves this late in the season.

Doncic and Reaves went down with injuries in the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former injured his hamstring while the latter hurt his oblique, both needing several weeks to recover.

Smith provided his thoughts on the Lakers’ chances of a playoff run during an April 6 appearance on First Take. He gave no chance of having a successful run, believing their campaign ends as soon as April.

“Without Luka and without AR, the Lakers are going home in April. Ladies and gentlemen, they couldn’t stop a cold against the Dallas Mavericks. They couldn’t stop anybody. And when AR and Luka Doncic are looking like better defenders than the people you had on the floor, it ain’t nowhere to go from there.”

“I think that in order for the Lakers to have any shot, they both have to be back somewhere midway through the first round in order for the Lakers to pull this off. Otherwise, the Lakers — I’m giving them zero. I repeat, zero chance of getting out of the first round, which means this season ends this month.”

“Without Luka [Doncic] and AR [Austin Reaves], the Lakers are going home in April… they couldn't stop a cold.”

Stephen A. Smith doesn't see the Lakers going far in the playoffs without Doncic and Reaves

(via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/uoRqWaVcKB

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 6, 2026

What’s next for Luka Doncic, Lakers

All hands will be on deck for the Lakers as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves try to recover as much as they can. LeBron James stands tall as the remaining star, while Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura amp up their scoring duties.

Los Angeles fell to a 50-28 record on the season, holding the third spot in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers will look to bounce back in their next matchup, being at home. They host the Thunder as tip-off will take place on April 7 at 10:30 p.m.

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