Austin Reaves is back, and the Lakers need him more than ever
Lakers guard Austin Reaves returns to the court tonight for Game 5 against the Rockets. He sat out nine games with an oblique strain—an injury that kept him out since April 2. But the break ended.
Reaves not only missed the final five of the regular season, but also watched the first four of the playoffs from the bench. But be careful: he trained all last week and even warmed up in the previous games in Houston. The final decision was not to risk it. Today, the risk is worth it.
“Reaves returned to practice last week and warmed up for the previous two games of the series in Houston before it was determined he would not play.”
Reaves’ injury occurred in the same game where Luka Doncic injured his hamstring. And although Doncic is still out, Reaves is ready. This is more than a return—it’s a respite for a team that has been navigating without two of its best scorers.
The Lakers won three games in a row without them. But Houston responded in Game 4, and now the series returns to Los Angeles with everything to decide. Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds this season—numbers that speak of his importance. But he only played 51 games due to injuries: first his left calf (19 games out since Christmas) and then his oblique.
This is not just a return. It is a test of resilience. Reaves knows what it’s like to fall and get up. And the Lakers need that spirit now more than ever. Could it be the factor that tips the balance? Tonight we will know.
