Will Luka Dončić return for NBA playoffs? What history says about Grade 2 hamstring injuries

As the Los Angeles Lakers come to terms with Luka Dončić’s Grade 2 hamstring strain, the immediate questions are as obvious as they are urgent.How long is the recovery timeline? And more importantly, will the Lakers’ superstar be back in time for the NBA playoffs, which begin April 18?So far, we know for sure only that Dončić will miss the rest of the regular season. The Lakers, currently third in the West with a 50-27 record, have only five games remaining and could begin their first-round playoff series six days after that.But the recovery timeline for a Grade 2 hamstring strain, also known as a partial tear, is rarely clear-cut. In fact, recent NBA history offers more reason for Dončić and the Lakers to be discouraged instead of optimistic. Around the league, comparable injuries have followed a pattern: initial absences in the three- to six-week range, followed by a heightened risk of reinjury.