Austin Reaves injury update after loss to Clippers

JJ Redick and the LA Lakers didn’t just lose in Sunday’s Intuit Dome debut against the LA Clippers, they lost their services Austin Reaves. He left the game due to an injury to his left knee. Reaves collided with several Clippers players while attempting an offensive rebound with 3:40 remaining, as the Lakers trailed 108-93 at the time.

Reaves fell to the floor, clutching his left knee, and hobbled to the bench without returning to the game.

Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned that Austin Reaves collided knees with a catfishe Clippers player and that the Lakers will gauge how he feels moving forward. He suggested the injury may not be serious, and the team plans to evaluate Reaves’ condition the next day.

Austin Reaves leads the Lakers offense

Reaves has quietly become one of the Lakers’ key players in his fourth season. Following D’Angelo Russell trade, Reaves stepped into the main playmaking role and proved capable of handling the responsibility.

Despite not being a natural point guard, the 6-foot-5 guard excelled. Over the past ten games, he has played at an All-Star level, averaging 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists while shooting 40.6% from three.

The 6-foot-5 guard scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, but struggled with ball control, finishing with five turnovers and just three assists.

The Clippers easily secured a 116-102 victory, moving the Lakers’ record to 22-18 on the season. The game was not competitive, and the Lakers will need to make adjustments to get back on track.

Los Angeles has a roster of deficiencies to address

The Lakers have clear roster flaws to address, and injuries have exacerbated their problems. After trading D’Angelo Russell in December for striker Dorian Finney-SmithThe Lakers bolstered their wing depth, but lacked guards, especially at the point guard. Austin Reaves stepped up to fill the void and impressed as the team’s starting quarterback.

However, aside from Reaves, the Lakers lack many players who can create shots in the half court, and their offense struggles when he is off the court. While LeBron James is often called upon to fill that role, the Lakers face the challenge of managing the four-time MVP’s minutes. This also increases the physical burden on the 40-year-old to contribute on both sides of the court.

The 26-year-old’s injury initially seemed worrying. If he’s out longer, it could further hamper LA’s already struggling offense.

Reaves, however, reassured everyone by saying that he feels fine and expects to play in Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards.

While there is a chance of a bone bruise, Reaves’ confidence in declaring he will play suggests his knee feels relatively good right now. For now, we hope that he will remain completely healthy.