Austin Reaves Will Miss Game 3 Against Houston
HOUSTON — Despite a spirited warm-up ahead of Game 3, Austin Reaves will not make his playoff debut this week. The Los Angeles Lakers guard was deemed unavailable before tonight’s matchup against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers, currently leading the best-of-seven series 2-0, will also be missing star forward Kevin Durant, who has been sidelined due to a left ankle sprain. Rockets coach Ime Udoka announced Durant’s absence shortly before the game’s start. The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of Game 2, where Durant twisted his ankle but continued to play. Following the game, swelling prompted concerns that ruled him out for the evening. Notably, Durant had previously missed Game 1 due to a knee contusion and had been a key contributor this season, ranking second in the league for minutes played.
Reaves’ recent downgrade from "questionable" to "out" comes as a surprise given his swift recovery. Three weeks ago, he sustained a left oblique strain during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Typically, a Grade 2 injury requires a recovery period of four to six weeks, which could have mirrored the timeline for Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, who also suffered a similar injury in the same game. However, Reaves managed a quicker recovery due to the nature of his injury.
Doncic sought specialized treatment in Spain and rejoined the Mavericks on the sidelines in time for Game 1. While he has resumed some light shooting, he did not participate fully in practice sessions this week, as confirmed by Lakers analyst JJ Redick. Reaves participated in on-court sessions with coaches during his rehabilitation but did not receive an updated timeline regarding his return.
Reaves initially sustained his injury while reaching for a loose ball in the first quarter against Oklahoma City, repeatedly indicating discomfort during the first half. He was evaluated by team medical staff during halftime but was cleared to continue that game, which ultimately resulted in a 36-point defeat for the Lakers.
Looking forward, both teams will aim to adapt without their key players as the playoff intensity escalates.
