Austin Reaves’ Injury Sparks Urgent Questions for Lakers’ Playoff Hopes

Austin Reaves has been nothing short of electric this season, lighting it up as the Lakers’ unexpected dynamo—yet, the streak hits a snag as he faces a minimum one-week pause due to a mild left calf strain. It’s tough news for a player who’s been redefining his role, posting career-best numbers that rival those of the league’s big names. While the Lakers prep for pivotal road matchups against the Suns and Jazz, the question looms: will Reaves be back in time to keep carrying the team’s momentum? His absence could ripple through the squad, especially considering his impact is felt deeply—not just in points, but in leadership and win shares. This Lakers side, already shaken by the absence of LeBron James at times, can ill afford to lose this emerging star’s spark. The stakes have never been higher, and the clock is ticking. LEARN MORE

Austin Reaves’ breakout season is going to be paused for at least seven days.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard is out with a mild left calf strain and will be re-evaluated in one week, according to team reporter Mike Trudell.

L.A. has two games in the next week: road games against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday and Utah Jazz on Tuesday. If Reaves is not ready to return in the minimum timeframe, he would miss a game against the Los Angeles Clippers next Saturday as well.

The Lakers’ season has mostly been defined by outrageous numbers for Luka Dončić and, until recently, the absence of LeBron James, but Reaves has made a strong case as a true star in 21 games. He’s averaging career highs across the board with 27.9 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game, and he’s actually the team leader in win shares according to Basketball Reference.

He set a career high in points with 51 in October, while Dončić and James were both absent.

Those contributions have helped the Lakers begin the season with a 17-7 record, tied for fourth in the Western Conference. However, they came up short in NBA Cup action Wednesday with a 132-119 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.