The Los Angeles Lakers will start their playoff series against the Houston Rockets without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
While the former has yet to return to Los Angeles after going to Europe to seek additional treatment for his hamstring strain, the latter in Reaves, has remained with the team throughout his recovery process.
While the Lakers still don’t expect Reaves to veer far from his expected return timeline, the team did get some good news on the 27-year-old, having the best season of his NBA career.
Lakers Get Good News On Austin Reaves Recovery
GettyMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MARCH 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 29, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Reaves is expected to miss a few more weeks for the Lakers, as on April 4, when his injury was originally reported, he was projected to be out for four to six weeks.
However, the guard has been at Los Angeles’ practices in the lead-up to their series against the Rockets. Now, for the past two days, Reaves has been seen shooting after practice, most recently with his basketball shoes on.
“Austin Reaves is back in sneakers after practice (and making his free throws),” team insider Dave McMenamin wrote in a post on X.
While that might not tell a lot about Reaves’ oblique injury recovery, it’s good news that he’s at least back on the court. Doncic’s timeline for a return remains uncertain, but unlike Reaves, he hasn’t been with the team, so the fact that the latter is at least getting documented on-court work can be a good sign for a Los Angeles team that is desperate to get his services back as soon as possible.
The two won’t be re-evaluated for at least a week, and according to Redick, they still are sidelined for an indefinite period of time.
In 51 games this season Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 49% shooting, all of which the Lakers are hopeful to get back as soon as possible.
Lakers Get More Good News On Playoff Series Vs Rockets
GettyKevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Again, the impending returns, whenever they may come, are the key for the Lakers to have any potential of beating Houston in the first round.
It remains to be seen when Doncic or Reaves will come back for Los Angeles, but while there might not be a lot the Lakers can control on when either comes back, they did get some good news as it relates to the schedule for their series against the Rockets.
The NBA recently published the full schedule of games for the first round, and luckily for the Lakers, their series against Houston features some of the most rest and off days across the entire postseason.
Los Angeles will have at least a few extra days of rest in between games, and if they can extend the series to a game six, that would be about a month out from when Reaves went down, and could line up with his original four-week return timeline.
But still, that is a long way away, and until the team gets any official news of Reaves or Doncic’s recovery, it remains speculation. However, the fact that Reaves is on the court is good news for the Lakers as they hope to push their series against the Rockets as long as possible.
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