The Lakers announced that Austin Reaves will miss the remainder of the regular season after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury, relays Khobi Price of The California Post (Twitter link). Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link), which puts his projected return somewhere in the second or third round of the playoffs
Reaves, who left Thursday’s game early, underwent an MRI Saturday in Dallas on his left oblique/rib area, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Reaves tweaked something in his left side during the first half of the lopsided loss to Oklahoma City. He went to the locker room to have it checked, but was able to return to the game, finishing with 15 points in 27 minutes before being removed.
“I went back to get a rebound, overextended a little bit, and I felt something,” Reaves told reporters after the game. “But I feel decent right now, so we’ll see.”
McMenamin adds that Reaves had to get two MRIs done because the first one didn’t focus on the correct portion of his body.
“I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” coach JJ Redick said. “Not on our end.”
It’s another devastating blow for the Lakers after Luka Doncic was diagnosed Friday with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that will keep him out for the rest of the season and probably at least the first round of the playoffs.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday before Reaves’ MRI results were announced, Redick said the team is remaining strong in the face of the injuries, and its mission to clinch the No. 3 seed and advance through the first round hasn’t changed. “And we’ll see what happens with Luka,” he added.
Redick plans to expand the scoring responsibilities while Doncic and Reaves are unavailable, mentioning LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton as players who can expect to see larger roles in the offense.
Since Reaves returned to the lineup in early February, James has mostly settled in as a third option, contributing in other ways while Doncic and Reaves have been the primary play-makers. Over the past seven games, James is averaging 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists. He’s taking just 11.7 shots per game in that span, well below his career average of 18.6.
“You got to flip the mindset a little bit when your role changes, whatever the case may be, or what’s needed out of [you for] the team,” James said. “So the mindset changes a little bit, for sure.”
Veteran guard Marcus Smart, who has missed the past six games with groin and ankle injuries, is now considered day-to-day, McMenamin adds, but he’s not certain to play against Dallas. Smart wasn’t able to fully participate in Saturday’s practice.
Redick plans to finish the season with an “all hands on deck approach,” stretching his normal rotation from nine to possibly 11 players. He stated that Kobe Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr. and Dalton Knecht will all join the team after participating in the G League playoffs Sunday night with the South Bay Lakers.
The injuries make L.A.’s hold on the third spot in the West somewhat tenuous after it looked solid earlier in the week. The Lakers currently have a one-game lead over Denver and a two-game cushion over Houston. After Sunday’s contest, they’ll host Oklahoma City on Tuesday, travel to Golden State on Thursday and then finish the season with home games against Phoenix on Friday and Utah on Sunday.
Hurt himself battling for an offensive rebound. Continued to clutch his side/back for the duration of the second quarter. He, like Luka, should not have played in the second half down 30. While they could have ended up where they are if they were regulated to the bench someone has to be held accountable.
It’s not JJ, he just said so. Lols.
It’s kinda funny looking at Lakers reddit and seeing almost no one blaming Redick for continuing to play them after their respective injuries. I get it’s not all on him, but there’s something very wrong with that picture.
In fact, I see more blame cast on him for the heavy minutes he was giving them in general, including during blowouts and such. And while that may be fair criticism as well, to me it’s a much lesser offense compared to leaving injured players out there, particularly with injuries that should be treated with caution (hamstring and oblique area).
We are going to see prime LeBron one last time for the next few weeks but this also means there is no way he is a laker next season
I don’t think hr expected the team to truly go deep anyway.. I don’t think it’ll be a factor. I think he has a minute amount of options in his mind. My that most teams wouldn’t want him by i think it’s the Lakers, Cavs or retire. Maybe Brice future might factor in but we’ll see.
Mother father! I didn’t think this team could get past the 1st round, but then they were looking pretty good, not good enough to beat the Thunder or Spurs, but good enough to get to the next round. Now, they are done. Worst possible time for injuries. Ugh. Can’t be relying on only LeBron at this stage of his career. Looking ahead to next season.
Not keeping that 3 seed
The Lakers were getting bounced in the first round anyway.
Not the way they were playing lately. Not if they had played Minnesota. Beating Houston twice wad also surprising. They might have held their own against them. Not anymore.
At least they still have Bronny.
Oof
Can the Lakers stay in the top 6?
Should be able to. They hold the tiebreaker over every team they are bunched with. Just need one win or Minnesota loss to secure 5. Two is the magic number over Houston for 4
They are guaranteed no worse than the 6 seed.
Don’t think LeBron can carry a G-League squad in a playoff series anymore… Lakers season is over
Now that is 2 teams without their 2 best players in the west. Makes it easier for the top 4 teams to advance to 2nd round.
Get well soon Luka and Austin.
Laker nation appreciates both your contributions and efforts this year
There truly are basketball gods up there, you guys. Luka and Austin will be fine – big things coming their way with roster improvements in LA. What are the odds that BOTH your top 2 players go down at the same time with the playoffs right around the corner? It’s almost as if a power from above was like…”if you think you can keep busriding your way to a 5th title – when you really should be out of the league by now – you are SORELY mistaken, Brawny Senior!”
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