The Los Angeles Lakers have been getting healthier in recent weeks and they got a major midseason boost as Austin Reaves returned to help the team beat the Brooklyn Nets.
The Lakers dominated the Nets to finish out their eight-game road trip, with Reaves coming off the bench in the winning effort. Head coach JJ Redick noted Reaves would be on a minutes restriction in his return, but the guard was still effective in his 21 minutes of game time.
Reaves finished the night with 15 points, four rebound, one assists and two steals in his first game back. While his jumper was off the mark, the guard still found his way to the free throw line where he drained eight out of his 10 attempts.
Following the win, Reaves acknowledged it was good to be back on the floor because he was getting restless watching from the sidelines, as seen in an interview with Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet:
“Felt good. It was good to be back out here. I’ve been pretty bored for a month now, so it’s good to be back.”
Reaves also detailed the ups and downs of rehabbing his calf injury but reiterated how much he enjoyed being back on the floor:
“It was just trying to do the right things every day. Even though it’s frustrating just trusting the process of what you’re doing cause one day you might feel good and the next you might not. Wish I was back a little sooner, but like I said it’s good to be back. It’s miserable when I’m not playing, I’m pretty bored.”
The Lakers ensured that Reaves was 100 percent healthy before he was available to make his return and that patience paid off as he physically looked like himself. The speed, burst and quickness were on full display though it’s understandable that his jumper wasn’t as effective as he gets his legs back underneath him.
Overall, it was an encouraging performance from Reaves who should slot right back in as one of the team’s top offensive options. Once he has got his rhythm and conditioning back, the Lakers offense should see an uptick in production and efficiency.
Tyrese Haliburton wants to learn on aspect of Austin Reaves’ game
Calf injuries became a major cause for concern after superstars like Tyrese Haliburton tore their Achilles in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Haliburton has been diligently rehabbing but in the meantime has been studying other players’ games.
For example, Haliburton said he’s been watching film of Austin Reaves to so he can get better at drawing contact and getting to the free throw line.
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