LOS ANGELES — Lakers starting Austin Reaves returned to the lineup for Thursday night’s homestand finale against the New York Knicks after missing the previous two games.
Reaves sat out Tuesday’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans and Sunday’s victory over the Clippers because of a strained right calf that forced him to miss most of last Friday’s win against the Clippers.
The fourth-year guard’s status was day-to-day after an MRI on the calf from over the weekend didn’t reveal a serious injury.
Reaves is averaging 19.1 points, six assists and 4.2 rebounds this season – one of 15 players in the NBA to meet the 19 point/six-assist/four-rebound statistical threshold, along with Lakers teammates Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
“The imaging we got kind of relieved any fears we had,” Coach JJ Redick said before Thursday’s game. “It’s just been more about him feeling comfortable and ready to play.
“He’s just had an overall great season. He’s been solid – more than solid. He’s been really good through each iteration of this team this season. And I think the more time that him, Bron and Luka could just all be on the court together and get comfortable is good for us going into this home stretch.”
Starting forward Rui Hachimura missed his fourth consecutive game because of left patellar tendinopathy.
Hachimura is expected to be reassessed on Friday ahead of the team’s four-game road trip that begins on Saturday night in Boston.
Redick said Hachimura will “likely” travel with the team.
DRIVING
Doncic said after the win against the Pelicans that he felt he should drive to the basket more, indicating that he still getting into rhythm after missing 6½ weeks because of a strained left calf as a reason for not doing so.
And while he’s driving at a similar rate as he did with the Dallas Mavericks before his injury and being traded in early February, he’s driving less than he has in previous seasons.
Doncic entered Thursday averaging 14.4 drives in his nine games as a Laker compared to the 14.6 he did in 22 games with the Mavericks earlier this season.
But he averaged 17.8 drives in 2023-24 and 19.7 the previous season.
Opponents have typically trapped or switched when Doncic has operated as the ball handler in pick-and-rolls.
“He’s done a good job of finding the balance,” Redick said of Doncic. “He may feel that. That’s not something we’ve addressed as a staff. We feel like he’s getting two on the ball and moving it. When he’s making 3s, he’s Luka and he’s one of the hardest players in the world to guard.
“But we like the way he’s balancing all the facets of his offensive game.”