Is Luka Doncic playing tonight against Minnesota Timberwolves? Latest on Lakers superstar's availability for Game 1, NBA playoffs (Apr. 19)

On Saturday, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will return to the starting five for Game 1 of the playoffs against the Timberwolves. Qualifying for the postseason as the number three seed in the West, the Lakers will face the sixth seed at the Crypto.com Arena as they look to win their first title since 2020.

A no-show for his team's final game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers, Luka Doncic sat out of the fixture with a sore quadricep. However, the Slovenian is not on the injury report for the Lakers' first playoff game and is set to start his first postseason fixture in the famous purple and gold.

Doncic was joined by LeBron James on the injury list for the final game of the season as he was suffering from a left groin strain. While the former has been cleared for the next game, James' fitness is still questionable and is listed as probable on the injury list. Forward Maxi Kleber joins the King on the Lakers' injury list, but he is certain to miss Game 1 of the playoffs with a foot injury.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding LeBron James' fitness, the return of Luka Doncic will be a huge boost for the Lakers. The 26-year-old has been a huge asset for the LA team since his blockbuster trade from the Dallas Mavericks. In his last two appearances during the regular season, Doncic recorded 39 and 45 points, respectively, and will look to emulate a similar scoring result against the Timberwolves.

Luka Doncic's tenure as a Laker so far, and where to watch?

After leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last term, Luka Doncic will be eyeing a similar result with the Lakers this season. Traded to the LA franchise in exchange for Anthony Davis and Max Christie, Doncic has been a revelation for the team since his arrival.

Joining the team in February, the former Rookie of the Year winner made his debut against the Utah Jazz and has steadily grown ever since. In his two months as a Laker, Luka Doncic has played 22 games, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals over 35.1 minutes per game.

His impressive and dynamic start in the City of Angels has led to them finishing as the third seed, but Doncic will be eyeing something even bigger. After his unceremonious exit from the Mavericks, the former Real Madrid star has a point to prove to his ex-employers, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs.

The match between the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves is scheduled for tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch this game live on the ABC and ESPN+ networks while viewers online can follow the game by livestreaming it on the FUBO TV App.