The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series in a matchup that will not feature star player Austin Reaves.
Reaves has missed three and a half weeks with an oblique strain, and while he was listed as questionable in the lead-up to Game 4, his status was downgraded for Sunday night.
While the Reaves injury news led headlines for the Lakers, the team is still without franchise star Luka Doncic, as he is out with a hamstring strain and isn’t expected to play in the series against the Rockets.
But before Game 4, and after the Reaves news, the Lakers announced their starting lineup for what could be the clinching matchup of their first-round series.
Lakers Announce Starting Lineup For Game 4 vs Rockets
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and head coach JJ Redick watch from the sidelines during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Heading into Game 4, the Lakers confirmed their starting lineup with a post on social media.
Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton were all named starters by head coach JJ Redick and his staff.
This is the lineup the Lakers have gone with for the first three games of their playoff campaign. While there was hope Reaves could return in Game 4, it will once again be the backcourt duo of Kennard and Smart, along with some help from James, to pick up the responsibility of missing nearly 60 points per game in the form of the missing Reaves and Doncic.
Still, this starting lineup has played well for the Lakers against the Rockets, as despite not having their two leading scorers, Los Angeles has found a way to win each of the first three games of the series, which they hope to do once again on Sunday night.
Austin Reaves Injury Return News
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 25: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts for a LA Clippers foul during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on November 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Like before Game 3, Reaves was questionable heading into Game 4 on Sunday night.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the day before the game, Reaves got shots up in the Rockets’ arena, which then led to his injury status being upgraded.
While Reaves didn’t end up playing in Game 3, his status being upgraded gave hope that he was nearing a return from injury. Additionally, before the game, McMenamin reported that many around the Lakers thought it was ‘surprising‘ that the star had advanced through his recovery process so quickly.
He was expected to miss four to six weeks, but just three and a half weeks after suffering the oblique injury, Reaves appeared all but ready to make his return.
“Austin had an oblique injury that was supposed to have a four to six week recovery window. He’s just passed three and a half weeks right now,” McMenamin said on Inside the NBA on Sunday. “It was surprising to some folks around the team that he was upgraded to questionable for Game 3.”
Redick had announced before the matchup that Reaves would be a game-time decision, and that was followed by the news that he was downgraded to out against the Rockets in Game 4.
As for Doncic, he remains sidelined with his hamstring strain, out indefinitely, according to the latest injury updates. The Lakers have hope that he could return at some point in the playoffs, but for now, that remains to be determined.
Los Angeles is currently up 3-0 after a stunning comeback in Game 3 and some strong performances from James, Kennard, and Smart throughout the series.
Through NBA history, teams up 3-0 in a playoff series are 159-0, so while the Lakers haven’t advanced just yet, they remain on the brink, regardless of what happens in Game 4.
Lakers Announce Starting Lineup For Game 4 Vs Rockets After Austin Reaves News