Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was forced to exit the team’s Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets due to left calf soreness, with an MRI scheduled for Friday to assess the severity. This setback comes as Reaves was enjoying a career-best season and had recently returned from a previous calf injury, raising concerns about his immediate availability and the Lakers’ prospects.
Reaves left the game at halftime after playing 15 minutes in the first half, during which he scored 12 points on efficient shooting. The team announced his departure due to the calf issue, and he left Crypto.com Arena without a brace, indicating the injury might not be severe initially. His exit contributed to the Lakers’ 119-96 loss to the Rockets, marking their third consecutive defeat.
This incident follows Reaves missing three games last week with a Grade 1 left calf strain, from which he had just returned in a game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. In that contest, he came off the bench under a minutes restriction but still managed 17 points, showing signs of recovery before the Christmas Day flare-up.
Lakers coach JJ Redick addressed the injury post-game, stating, ‘Austin clearly felt something,’ and explained that the decision to rule him out was made after halftime by the medical staff. Redick had previously advocated for Reaves to be an All-Star this season, highlighting his importance to the team’s success.
Teammate Luka Dončić, who has experience with calf injuries, offered support and caution, noting, ‘Calves are dangerous, so take your time.’ Dončić emphasized the need for careful recovery, reflecting the increased awareness in the NBA about the risks associated with calf strains.
Reaves is scheduled for an MRI on Friday, which will determine the extent of the new soreness and whether it is related to the previous strain. Medical sources suggest that calf injuries require careful management to prevent aggravation, and the Lakers are likely to be conservative in his rehabilitation.
Before the injury, Reaves was averaging career-highs of 27.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, positioning himself as a key player for the Lakers. His emergence has been crucial, especially with LeBron James absent and Dončić dealing with his own injury issues earlier in the season.
The Lakers now face uncertainty as they navigate Reaves’ recovery timeline. His absence could impact their performance in upcoming games, and the team will need to rely on other guards like Marcus Smart, who replaced him in the starting lineup. Fans and analysts will closely watch the MRI results to gauge how long one of the NBA’s most improved players might be sidelined.
