The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury concerns continue to grow, with Austin Reaves now ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique injury, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting a recovery timeline of four to six weeks.
He joins Luka Doncic on the sidelines, after the Slovenian was previously ruled out “indefinitely” with a left hamstring injury.
The absence of both stars places the Lakers’ season in a precarious position, with each expected to miss at least part of the first round of the playoffs, if not more.
Lakers Rotation Tested as Injuries Mount Ahead of Playoff Push
The Lakers are set to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, with Marcus Smart also listed as out as he prepares to miss his seventh consecutive game.
Jarred Vanderbilt has also been added to the injury report as questionable with right calf soreness.
With the regular season nearing its end, the Lakers’ rotation is suddenly stretched thin at a critical moment.
Los Angeles currently sits third in a tightly contested Western Conference at 50-27, just half a game ahead of the Denver Nuggets in fourth.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, head coach JJ Redick is expected to expand the rotation in response to the growing injury list. Kobe Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr., and Dalton Knecht are all set to join the team in Dallas.
All three have played key roles in the South Bay Lakers’ push towards a first-ever G League championship.
Earlier this week, South Bay secured a 122-119 win over the San Diego Clippers in a single-elimination first-round postseason matchup.
Bufkin was one of the standout performers for the Lakers’ affiliate, scoring 20 points and delivering the decisive defensive play with a game-saving block.
Smith added 18 points, five assists, and two steals off the bench, while Knecht contributed eight points.
South Bay’s Momentum Faces Challenge as Key Players Join LA
In the second-round, South Bay defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 112-97, with Knecht emerging as the difference-maker.
The Lakers second-year guard scored 20 points in the first-half alone, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.
He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, helping guide South Bay to the Western Conference Finals.
Smith, despite shooting 5-of-12 from the field, still contributed 11 points, four rebounds, and five assists in a balanced performance.
Bufkin continued his strong form with 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
All three players have been instrumental during South Bay’s franchise-record 12-game winning streak to close the regular season, as well as their playoff run.
They are now set to join the Lakers in Dallas, which means they are likely to miss Game 1 of South Bay’s Western Conference Finals series against the Stockton Kings which is also on Sunday.
Their absence could disrupt what has been a standout season for the Lakers’ G League affiliate. However, with the conference finals shifting to a best-of-three format, there remains room for their potential return later in the series.
While the Lakers remain the priority at the NBA level, South Bay will look to the likes of Drew Timme, Adou Thiero, and Chris Manon to carry the load early. There will be hopes of reinforcements returning as the series progresses.
Lakers Growing Injury Troubles Threaten South Bay’s Championship Push