The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, the finale of their eight-game-road trip, and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) is again being listed as questionable.
Additionally, Bronny James (left leg soreness) is questionable and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) is out.
The Lakers have been without Reaves since Christmas Day due to a calf injury, which is something you can’t rush back from. Reaves has already dealt with multiple calf injuries this season and if he returns before he’s 100% healthy, he would be risking more serious injury like an Achilles tear.
There was optimism that Reaves would be able to return on the Lakers’ road trip and this is now the third game in a row he is being listed as questionable. In the last two though, he wasn’t feeling quite ready so the organization continued to be cautious.
After the Lakers’ loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick revealed that Reaves remains day-to-day and the hope is that he will be able to suit up in Brooklyn, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
“He’s day-to-day, game-to-game, however you want to phrase it,” Redick said. “We’ll hopefully have him for Tuesday [against the Brooklyn Nets], but he’s got to feel 100% confident.”
The Lakers have gone 4-3 to start their road trip without Reaves, so they have been able to find a way to manage. They should be able to take care of business in Brooklyn if he is unable to go as well, but there’s no denying the Lakers will need Reaves back and at full strength if they want to make any noise in the second half of the season.
Whenever Reaves is able to return, he will likely be on a minutes restriction as he works his way back into game shape.
Luka Doncic wants Austin Reaves to be cautious
One person who doesn’t want Reaves to rush back in Luka Doncic, who has dealt with multiple calf injuries himself in recent years.
“It’s definitely hard with a calf,” Doncic said when asked about Reaves. “I’ve been through that. It’s not an easy injury. So, we just want him to be healthy. If he’s not ready to come back, don’t come back. But obviously, we’d love to have him out there. We can’t wait for his return.”
Doncic and Reaves built some great chemistry to start the season, so hopefully they can pick up where they left off when the latter returns to action.
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