Austin Reaves, a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, faced a concerning incident during the second quarter of his team’s 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fortunately, he made a successful return for the second half without any significant limitations.
On Saturday, the L.A. Times reported that an MRI indicated there was no structural damage to his back. Reaves has traveled with the team to Utah for their upcoming game against the Jazz, though his playing status remains uncertain.
Lakers coach JJ Redick commented on the situation, sharing, “The vantage point on the play was an airborne player; that’s why I stopped dunking very early in my life. It was clear he couldn’t go in the first half. He’s tough as nails.” He added that Reaves seemed to move well when he returned, but was affected by the earlier incident, noting that Reaves likely would experience some pain.
The injury occurred with just over three minutes left in the first half after Reaves executed a fake handoff to teammate Max Christie, fooling the Thunder defenders. As Reaves drove towards the basket, he collided with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein, landing directly on his back.
After medical evaluation, Reaves briefly remained in the game, successfully hitting two free throws and attempting a 3-pointer. However, he struggled to move effectively and left for the locker room after the next stoppage. It seemed he wouldn’t return for the night, especially when he did not come back for the second half. But he surprised everyone by returning midway through the third quarter and ended the game with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
This season has seen Reaves improving significantly, currently averaging a career-high of 17.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, with a 37% shooting rate from three-point range. He ranks third in scoring for the Lakers, only behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and is second in assists behind James. Impressively, he has played in all 18 games this season, following a complete 82-game season last year.
The possibility of losing Reaves for any length of time would pose a challenge for the Lakers, who have experienced a tumultuous season. After a six-game winning streak, they have struggled, losing four of the last five games, placing them at 11-8 and sixth in the tightly contested Western Conference.
In summary, while Reaves’ recent injury raised alarms, the positive news regarding his health and performance underscores his resilience and importance to the Lakers’ lineup. With his key contributions, the team remains hopeful for a turnaround in their season as they navigate through challenges in the competitive conference.