Is Austin Reeves coming back tonight? Lakers vs. Knicks injury report

The seventh part Los Angeles Lakers‘ current journey takes them to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Sunday night. Inconsistent The Lakers are hoping for the return of Austin Reaves for the game, and Zvezda’s defender is questionable to return from a one-month absence. Here’s everything we know about Austin Reaves’ injury and his playing status against the Knicks.

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Austin Reaves vs. Knicks injury status

The Lakers have been without Reaves since Christmas, when he suffered a calf strain in a loss to the Houston Rockets. The 27-year-old has been slowly making his way back since then, with the team listing him as questionable for the past week before demoting him before tipoff. Los Angeles has it again listed as suspicious to face the Knicks, from game day morning.

Reaves’ return appears imminent, but his recent activity on the injury report makes it difficult to gauge his true progress. As of Sunday, he had missed the Lakers’ last 18 games, during which they were 10-8.

Head coach JJ Redick has been starting Marcus Smart in place of Reaves, which has been generally positive. In January, Smart averaged 9.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 38.2 percent from deep. Although he wasn’t the same defender he once was, Smart’s impact on that side of the field he also fits better alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

While the Lakers enter Sunday night with a big win over the Washington Wizards, they now face a Knicks team brimming with confidence, riding a five-game winning streak. Los Angeles would love to have Reaves back for that game against a new New York defense that has held teams to just 90.2 points per game during the current winning streak.

If Reaves returns, the Lakers would be back at full strength for the first time in more than a month. The Knicks will only be without backup point guard Myles McBride, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

Lakers injury report

Brony James — Questionable pain in lower left leg

Austin Reaves — Questionable, left calf strain

Adou Thiero — OUT, MCL sprain

Knicks injury report

Pacome Dadiet — Questionable, G League

Trey Jemison III —‚Questionable, G League

Myles McBride — OUT, nursing left ankle injury

Kevin McCullar Jr. — Questionable, G League