Austin Reaves’ Availability in Question for Wednesday’s Game Against the Lakers
Lakers’ Austin Reaves Approaches Return Ahead of Crucial Game 5
Less than four weeks after sustaining a Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain, Austin Reaves is moving closer to rejoining the Los Angeles Lakers, who sit on the brink of securing a spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Reaves will be a game-time decision for Wednesday’s pivotal Game 5 against the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.
Reaves has been listed as questionable for Games 3 and 4, participating in warm-ups before being ruled out. Despite his absence, the Lakers hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, even without their leading scorer Luka Doncic, who is sidelined due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.
In his first comments to reporters since his injury on April 2, Reaves expressed eagerness to return. “JJ [Redick] specifically was like you have to be comfortable with your body and what you can do to go out there and help us be successful,” he stated. “And I want to get back out there as fast as I can. But like I said, I feel good and trending in the right direction and can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and attack another day.”
Reaves acknowledged his high pain tolerance, noting that while he completed the game against Oklahoma City, he had concerns about the injury as he frequently grabbed at his left side during play. This setback was compounded by Doncic’s injury, with both players ruled out just days apart. The Lakers, who were third in the Western Conference, saw a significant drop in momentum after losing key players, concluding a strong March with a 15-2 record.
“Our confidence doesn’t waver as a team,” Reaves added. “Basically the message from that day forward was … that they were going to do everything as a team to give us an opportunity to come back and play. And they’ve done exactly what they said.”
Despite battling injuries, the Lakers finished the regular season with three consecutive wins, securing home-court advantage as the fourth seed. They took a commanding 3-0 lead in the playoff series against the Rockets, though the Rockets managed to stave off elimination with a blowout victory in Game 4.
Meanwhile, Doncic is making progress in his recovery but has yet to engage in one-on-one practices. Recent updates indicate he has begun incorporating movement into his on-court work, moving beyond just stationary shooting.
As the series continues, the Lakers’ ability to adapt without their star players will be critical in their pursuit of playoff advancement.
