The Los Angeles Lakers lost Game 4 of their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, unable to pull off the sweep while still playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both of whom are still waiting to return from muscle injuries.
Through the first three games of the series, the Lakers played well despite not having their two leading scorers. In Game 4, however, they severely missed what those two bring to the table, specifically on offense.
But with a looming Reaves injury return while Doncic remains out indefinitely, the Lakers have a chance to close out the series in Game 5 back in Los Angeles, but before that, they’ll need to fix one big issue that head coach JJ Redick outlined as they continue to play without their star backcourt duo.
JJ Redick Drops Concerning Lakers Quote Amid Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic Injury Returns
GettyHead coach JJ Redick reaction on two Lakers being ejected during tonight’s game.
The Lakers lost Game 4 in a contest that wasn’t close for most of the night. Though as a team they didn’t shoot well, they also couldn’t generate much on offense.
LeBron James had just ten points and eight turnovers, as it became the first time in his career that he’s turned the ball over that many times in two straight games.
Speaking postgame, Redick reiterated what the Lakers are missing by playing without Doncic and Reaves.
“That’s the biggest challenge we have is just the ball-handling and downhill drivers, not having those guys,” he said.
The Lakers finished the night with 24 turnovers, compared to just 13 for the Rockets in their 19-point loss. Los Angeles wasn’t able to close out what could have been the series-clinching game, as for arguably the first time against Houston in the first round, they felt the effects of being without their two dominant ball handlers and playmakers.
Still, through NBA history, teams are 159-0 when up 3-0 at any point in the series, so the Lakers still have a heavy advantage heading into Game 5, regardless of whether they see Reaves or Doncic return.
When Are Luka Doncic And Austin Reaves Making Their Injury Returns?
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
While it was apparent in their Game 4 loss that the Lakers could have used at least one of Doncic or Reaves in the lineup to close out the series, they could be looking at the return of one of them soon.
Reaves has been listed as questionable in the lead-up to the last two games for Los Angeles. While he didn’t end up playing in either of them, he appears to be inching closer to a return from his grade 2 oblique strain. His status for Game 5 remains uncertain, but after going through warmups in the prior two contests, he could be elevated and help the Lakers close out the series on Wednesday.
As for Doncic, he remains out indefinitely, as the team hasn’t offered many updates on his status through the first four games of the series.
However, according to team insider Dave McMenamin, Doncic hasn’t made much on-court progress in his injury recovery.
“There’s been no progression, in terms of his on-court work,” he said on Inside the NBA before Game 4. “He did some very light shooting in L.A. before this team got to Houston, but there’s still some time before we’re going to start circling a calendar date when he could be back on the court in an actual game.”
He followed that up with a report in which Redick indicated the star did start some movement on the court.
“Luka Doncic started movement on the court today as he continues to rehab his left hamstring strain. ‘Most of his stuff [before] had been standstill,’ Redick said,” he wrote in a post on X.
While he remains out indefinitely, the Lakers have hope that he could return at some point in the playoffs, especially if they advance past the Rockets.
Los Angeles has the chance to put Houston away in Game 5, which comes on Wednesday, April 30, at 7 pm PST and will be live on ESPN.
JJ Redick Drops Concerning Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Quote After Lakers’ Game 4 Loss