Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been productive offensively in his first postseason since being traded by the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old guard entered Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 30.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists through four games.
After leading Dallas to the NBA Finals last season, Doncic was hoping to do the same for LA this year. With the Lakers securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, it surprised many when they quickly fell into a 3-1 hole to the sixth seed Timberwolves.
Complicating matters, Doncic left Wednesday’s game in the first half with an apparent back injury.
Walking gingerly to the locker room, Doncic spent the rest of the first half there. Fans were eagerly awaiting an update from the Lakers or one of the team’s reporters, and that has since been provided.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Doncic is cleared to return for the second half, but did not emerge from the locker room until seconds before the buzzer sounded. He also walked out with a wrap on his back.
Both before and after the news that Doncic would be returning to the game, fans accused him of faking it due to his poor first half performance.
“Luka with the fake injury again,” a fan wrote.
“Luka always getting fake hurt when he know he got no chance lmao,” said another.
“Bron taught Luka how to fake a injury,” a fan added.
“Another year another fake luka injury cause he’s losing lol,” claimed another.
“Luka is the biggest fake I’m hurt guy behind LeBron,” another wrote.
“Luka fake injury gimmick yeah they’re over,” another post read.
Doncic dealt with injuries this season, appearing in just 50 regular season games. It was a calf issue that primarily cost him time, as he was still nursing that lower-leg injury when dealt to Los Angeles in February.
It was an awkward play that sent Doncic to the locker room, as he drove to the basket before being fouled by Timberwolves guard Donte Divincenzo. The officiating crew reviewed the play, deeming it a common foul with nothing excessive.
