Austin Reaves ankle injury update for Timberwolves battle

LOS ANGELES – Following Los Angeles Lakers‘ A 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors on opening night, the concern wasn’t just about the team’s play, but their potential injuries going forward. And Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves suffered minor injuries during the game, and after Thursday’s practice, Lakers coach JJ Redick was injured update for both players for their upcoming game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Luca was a full participant, Austin was a modified participant,” Redick said. “He (Austin) kind of fixed his ankle. It wasn’t live yesterday so he was able to do everything. Today he did everything but live. It’s not a thing where I can say he’s going to be out a few games or he’s going to play tomorrow. It’s just, literally how he feels tomorrow. I know Austin, I expect him to play.”

After the Lakers’ loss to the Warriors, Doncic played down the importance of the groin injury he suffered during the game and at training on Wednesday Redik confirmed again that Doncic had no restrictions. Although the official injury report has not yet been released, the general feeling is that both Doncic and Reaves will be able to play against the Timberwolves.

With LeBron James currently sidelined with his own injury, Doncic and Reaves become much more important to the Lakers lineup. Reaves, in particular, flirted with All-Star numbers last season, and will only get better this season in a contract year.

Reaves has already turned down a contract extension offer from the Lakers last offseason, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there are concerns he’ll leave the organization. He can get more financially by waiting until this offseason to sign a new contract. Reaves can exercise his player option after this year and become an unrestricted free agent.

Against the Warriors, Reaves was one of the team’s bright spots, finishing with 26 points, five rebounds, nine assists and two steals while shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. He struggled from distance, though he went just 1 of 5 from the three-point line.

Last season, Reaves appeared in 73 games, all starts, with just over 34 minutes per game. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals on 46 percent shooting from the field, 37.7 percent from the three-point line and 87.7 percent from the free throw line.