The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday, April 21, in a game that will not feature Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves.
The two leading scorers for the Lakers remain out for Game 2, and while the team did offer new injury updates on both, it will once again be the LeBron James show for Los Angeles while they remain sidelined.
Before Game 2, the Lakers announced their starting lineup and final injury report for Tuesday night’s contest.
Lakers Starting Lineup For Game 2 Vs Rockets
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers prior to a Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
In the lead-up to the game, the Lakers took to social media to announce their starting lineup, a group that will not feature Doncic or Reaves.
Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton were all named starters by head coach JJ Redick and his staff.
Kennard is coming off a 27-point playoff career-high performance in Game 1, which, along with James’ near triple-double, was the leading storyline from the opening matchup of the series.
While it was those two taking charge for Los Angeles, the team as a whole, with this starting lineup, had a historic shooting night. It remains to be seen if they can recreate that same magic for Game 2, but playing without their two leading scorers, the Lakers will take a victory any way possible against Houston.
Luka Doncic And Austin Reaves Injury Updates Before Game 2
Doncic and Reaves remain sidelined with hamstring and oblique strains, respectively, and are the only two players listed on the Lakers’ injury report.
But while the two are still out, earlier in the day, Shams Charania of ESPN reported Reaves could be further along in his recovery process than Doncic at this point in the series.
“The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is actually the one that’s further along than Luka Doncic in their respective rehab processes. I am told Austin Reaves has started 1 on 1 on court work,” he said on NBA Today. “The Lakers are not expecting Luka Doncic to be back in this series. He is out indefinitely.”
In his pregame press conference, Redick offered a similar update on the two. He said that Reaves is ramping up, while Doncic is still out indefinitely.
“JJ Redick confirmed that Austin Reaves has begun a return-to-play protocol on the practice court, but reiterated there is no change in his return timeline. Luka Doncic will start on-court work soon but there is no change in his timeline either,” team insider Jovan Buha wrote in a post on X.
Doncic never had an official return timeline, while Reaves was originally ruled out for four to six weeks. The Lakers have maintained hope that one or both of them could return at some point in the series, but for now, that remains to be seen.
The Lakers had a historic shooting night in Game 1, and while they continue to miss their star backcourt duo, they might need some more heroics from James, Kennard, and the rest of the rotation for Game 2.
That is only amplified by the fact that Kevin Durant was listed as a game-time decision for much of the day, as he deals with a knee injury, but was since upgraded to available and without a minute restriction for his series debut.
The Lakers vs Rockets Game 2 tips off on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 pm PST and will be live on NBC and Peacock.
Lakers Announce Starting Lineup Vs Rockets After Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves News