Austin Reaves, the team’s 2nd-leading scorer, was listed as questionable for the past two games.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers will wait until game time Wednesday night to determine whether he is ready to return from nearly four weeks on the sidelines with a strained oblique muscle.
Reaves expressed cautious optimism Tuesday when he spoke to reporters for the first time since getting hurt April 2 at Oklahoma City. The Lakers’ second-leading scorer was listed as questionable for the past two games of their first-round playoff series against Houston, but ultimately didn’t play while Los Angeles split the contests to take a 3-1 series lead.
“I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves said at the Lakers’ training complex. “I feel good. Trending in the right direction. I can’t wait to get up (Wednesday) and attack another day.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick gave no hints about the team’s mindset around Reaves, saying his availability will be “based on whether he’s good to go. We’ll talk through that.”
Reaves has tried to stay even-keeled during the second major injury absence of his otherwise outstanding season. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds, but played in just 51 games thanks to the oblique injury and a strained left calf that sidelined him for 19 straight games from Christmas to February.
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