Austin Reaves’ imminent return to the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup is here. Just as the Lakers are slowly shifting their sights to the second round of the playoffs
The Lakers have completely jumped the Rockets, pushing their lead to 3-0 after a miraculous win Friday night in Houston. The Rockets have one last chance before their season ends in humiliating fashion.
Especially if the Lakers get their second-best scorer back in the lineup, the Rockets are staring down a 0-4 sweep. That’s not what you want — especially in front of the home fans.
Lakers fans, star help may finally be on the way after more news on Reaves surfaced today.
Austin Reaves Status for Game 4 to Be Decided Soon
As Game 4 approaches, the Lakers are ready to lock in one more win and punch their ticket to the West semifinals. If they get Reaves back for Sunday’s game, the Lakers’ chances of winning skyrocket.
Reaves, 27, incurred a Grade 2 oblique strain just 23 days ago. While the team didn’t announce an estimated return timeline — head coach JJ Redick said multiple times that Reaves and fellow injured star Luka Doncic would be out “indefinitely” — several credible sources floated a 4-6 week window.
Reaves is just at the start of the third week, so either the timeline those sources gave wasn’t accurate or Reaves’ injury wasn’t as bad as everyone made it seem.
GettyAustin Reaves speaks with Lakers coach JJ Redick during a game as his return status remains unclear.
The Lakers are up 3-0, so it’s not like it is absolutely critical to get Reaves back in the lineup. L.A. could very well decide to sit him until round two when it plays a much tougher opponent.
The Lakers could still use Reaves sooner than later to get some time to ease him back into the swing of things before a difficult second round series.
According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin, the Lakers have announced once again that Reaves is questionable for Game 4 (he was also listed as that entering Game 3, which he did not play).
“Austin Reaves is once again questionable for Game 4, per the Lakers,” McMenamin wrote in an X post.
Aiming to Close Out the Series in Commanding Fashion
If Reaves returns Sunday, the Lakers could cruise to a first round sweep. Considering how close Reaves was to playing in Friday’s Game 3, it sure feels the 27-year-old Lakers guard will give it a go in Game 4. Let’s just say it’s more likely he plays.
Reaves began his return-to-play process earlier this week at Lakers practice. Videos showed him taking part in drills and working with trainers, offering the first real sign his return was nearing. Now, he could be back in action as soon as tomorrow.
The Lakers were fortunate to escape Game 3 with a win. The Rockets held a six-point advantage with roughly 30 seconds to play in regulation, but blunder upon blunder shot Houston in its own heart as the Lakers snatched the opportunity.
It was bad enough that Rockets head coach Ime Udoka showed no restraint in criticizing his players after the game.
For Houston, it would be a brutal way to go out in a sweep against a Los Angeles team without Doncic and mostly (if not entirely) without Reaves.
No team in NBA history has overcome an 0-3 deficit. Only four teams have even forced a Game 7 after trailing by three games.
The Rockets are still with the unknown when it comes to star forward Kevin Durant, who was ruled out of Friday’s Game 3.
If Durant is sidelined again Sunday and Reaves returns for the Lakers, it could get ugly fast for the home team.
Game 4 is on tap. Tip off is set for 8:30 p.m. at Toyota Center.
Lakers Announce Major Austin Reaves News as Chances of Sweep Skyrocket