The Los Angeles Lakers have ruled out Austin Reaves for Game 2 against the Houston Rockets, according to the NBAâs official injury report. The Lakers will again be without one of their top scorers. The NBAâs official injury report, released at 10 a.m. ET on April 21, lists Reaves as out for Game 2 against the Houston Rockets with a left oblique strain, per the league report.
Leading Lakers scorer Luka Doncic (33.5 points per game) has also been ruled out with his ongoing hamstring injury. The absence of Reaves and Doncic removes the Lakersâ top scoring options as they try to build on their Game 1 win.
Reaves suffered his injury on April 2 in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was immediately ruled out for the regular season, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. His entire first-round series with Houston is now also in serious jeopardy. At his current recovery pace, he would not be eligible to return until late April at the earliest, and only if he heals ahead of schedule.
Reaves appeared in just 51 games this regular season due to injuries. When healthy, he was the Lakersâ second-leading scorer and turned in the best statistical season of his career: 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49.0% from the field and 36.0% from 3-point range.
Losing a guard averaging 23.3 points in any playoff series would be a significant blow. Losing him in the same series in which Doncic is also on the shelf makes the Lakersâ path through the first round considerably more difficult on paper, even if Game 1 suggested otherwise.
GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game before being ruled out for Game 2 against the Houston Rockets due to injury.
Austin Reavesâ Absence Leaves Lakers Shorthanded Again
Reaves is not the only name missing from the Lakersâ lineup. Head coach JJ Redick said last week that Doncic is âout indefinitely,â as quoted by Lakers Nationâs Corey Hansford. Together, the two injuries strip Los Angeles of its top two scorers heading into a crucial home playoff game.
Despite that, the Lakers handled Game 1 convincingly. Los Angeles won 107-98 behind a balanced offensive effort. Luke Kennard led all scorers with 27 points, LeBron James contributed 19 points and 13 assists, and Deandre Ayton added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
All five Lakers starters finished in double figures. Marcus Smart added 15 points and eight assists while Rui Hachimura chipped in 14 points, three steals and two blocks.
The Houston Rockets were also shorthanded in Game 1. Kevin Durant sat out with a right knee contusion suffered in practice, and his absence was felt. Houston shot just 37.6% from the field and could not overcome 21 offensive rebounds. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said Monday that Durant is making progress and will be a game-time decision for Game 2.
Los Angeles Lakers Lean on LeBron James
With Reaves and Doncic unavailable, LeBron James takes on the bulk of offensive responsibilities for the Lakers. But that is nothing new for perhaps the greatest player in NBA history. In 11 regular-season games this year without Doncic, James averaged 10.3 assists and 7.0 rebounds and expanded his facilitating role without missing a beat.
In Game 1, James dished eight assists in the first quarter alone on his way to 19 points and 13 assists for the game, repeatedly putting teammates in positions to score rather than forcing his own shot. At 41 years old, he showed no signs of wilting without his two best supporting weapons.
The Lakers opened as 5.5-point underdogs for the series. After Durant was ruled out for Game 1, that number dropped to 2.5. With Durant now questionable for Game 2, Los Angeles is currently listed as a 4.5-point underdog, in odds published by Sports Illustrated. Game 2 tips off at 7:30 p.m. PT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
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