The Los Angeles Lakers are getting Austin Reaves back for their first chance to close out the Houston Rockets.
Reaves has been cleared to return for Game 5 against Houston, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, giving the Lakers a significant backcourt boost after the guard missed time with an oblique injury. Charania reported the update shortly before tipoff on April 29, with the Lakers holding a 3-1 series lead.
The Lakers followed the report up with an official available designation in the NBA’s injury report.
The timing matters. Los Angeles can advance with a win at Crypto.com Arena, while Houston is trying to extend the series after avoiding a sweep with a 115-96 Game 4 victory. The Rockets will be without Kevin Durant, who has been ruled out because of a left ankle sprain and bone bruise, according to Reuters.
Reaves’ return gives the Lakers another ball-handler, shooter and late-clock creator for a game that could decide the series.
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Reaves’ availability does not just give the Lakers another healthy body. It gives head coach JJ Redick another player he can trust in high-leverage possessions.
Before the injury, Reaves had taken on a major offensive role for Los Angeles. He was the Lakers’ second-leading scorer, but had been listed as questionable for the previous two games. He averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season, all while becoming one of the Lakers’ most important offensive connectors.
That matters against Houston because the Rockets’ pressure can turn games into half-court slogs. Reaves gives the Lakers a guard who can initiate offense, attack closeouts and punish defenses that load up elsewhere.
Even if Reaves is not immediately given his normal workload, his presence should change how Houston guards the Lakers. He can space the floor, run secondary pick-and-rolls and stabilize bench-heavy minutes that can swing a playoff game.
The biggest question is whether Reaves starts right away or comes off the bench in a managed return. Either way, Los Angeles now has more flexibility than it had earlier in the series.
Lakers Can Close Out Rockets With Houston Short-Handed
Game 5 already tilted toward the Lakers before the Reaves update because of Durant’s continued absence.
Durant has missed most of the series, and Houston has had to adjust its offense without its top star. The Rockets kept their season alive in Game 4, but asking them to win again on the road without Durant is a different challenge. The Houston Chronicle reported Game 5 is set for 9 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena, with the Rockets facing elimination.
Reaves’ return raises the pressure on Houston’s defense. The Rockets can no longer devote as much attention to the Lakers’ top options without accounting for another player capable of scoring 20-plus points or making the next pass.
For Los Angeles, this is also about avoiding a longer series. A Game 5 win would give the Lakers extra rest before the next round and prevent Houston from dragging the matchup back to Texas with momentum.
That is why Reaves being cleared is more than a pregame injury note. It changes the Lakers’ rotation, raises their offensive ceiling and gives them one more proven playoff guard for the most important minutes of the night.
Lakers Make Final Austin Reaves Decision For Game 5, per Report