Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is back into the swing of things after missing 22 games in a 24-game stretch due to a calf injury. He returned to the lineup on Feb. 3 against the Brooklyn Nets, and has been playing on a minutes restriction in the games since.
He has yet to play 30 minutes in a single game in the five since returning, but Reaves has looked every bit like the player the Lakers desperately needed with him absent.
His best performance since returning was in his second game back against the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 35 points on 12-of-17 from the field in a comeback winning effort.
After Thursday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers star was asked how he’s feeling since returning to the lineup, responding with both an honest and comedic answer.
“I feel great,” Reaves said. “I’ll feel better when I’m on a golf course in the morning, but I feel good right now. [My] legs are a little tired but yeah, it’s just part of getting back into basketball shape and playing road games.”
It was clear during his absence that the Lakers missed his activity and creation on the offensive end. They looked like a much slower and more stagnant team with his gone for an extended period.
Reaves returning on a minutes restriction — and still being effective — proves that. And the way he’s felt in the five games since returning shows that he’ll likely be ready for his full workload when the team returns from the All-Star break.
Of course, he’ll spend some of his break on a golf course as well.
JJ Redick assesses first half of Lakers season
Injuries were a major part of the sentiment from head coach JJ Redick when he discussed the first half of the Lakers season. He mentioned Luka Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James each missing significant time and only playing 10 games alongside one another.
“Look, if you would have you told me in September that we’d be, are we five in the West or six? So, we’re top five in the West; we’ve had those guys together for 10 games, and AR [Austin Reaves] has missed some time. In an extended stretch, Luka [Dončić] has missed some time. Bron [LeBron James], missed the start of the year. Certainly doesn’t mean the day-to-day internal pressure you put on yourself, and I know the guys put on themselves because they care. It doesn’t mean that’s going to go away, but you’ve got to feel good about the last 14 games outside of the San Antonio game the other night.”
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
