TITLE: Lakers Expect Austin Reaves to Miss One Week with Mild Calf Strain
SLUG: lakers-expect-austin-reaves-out-one-week-mild-calf-strain
CONTENT:
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will be sidelined for approximately one week after being diagnosed with a mild left calf strain, head coach JJ Redick said Saturday.
Reaves experienced tightness prior to the club’s Nov. 14 game in New Orleans and reported further discomfort the following day, according to Redick. “It’s a mild strain, grade one. He’ll be out a week,” the coach told reporters after practice.
The Lakers plan to re-evaluate the 27.8-points-per-game scorer in seven days. With only two games on the schedule over that span, team officials believe Reaves could miss minimal playing time. Redick emphasized a cautious approach, noting recent league examples of players who aggravated calf issues into more serious injuries. “Players now are becoming more cautious when they get those diagnoses with the calf,” he said. “Everything looks clean; it’s not in the deep part. It should be a week.”
Reaves’ absence forces lineup changes for a roster already ranked last in bench scoring at 24.5 points per game. Luka Dončić and LeBron James are expected to shoulder additional ball-handling duties, while Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent—both recently returned from injuries—could see expanded minutes.
Adjusting Without the Second-Leading Scorer
Redick acknowledged Reaves “makes a lot of things work for us” and said multiple combinations will be tested until the guard returns. The Lakers traded for Dončić last season to alleviate playmaking pressure on James, offering more flexibility than previous years when injuries struck the backcourt.
Reaves, 26, has appeared in all 21 games this season and is the team’s second-leading scorer behind Dončić. The Lakers will monitor his progress throughout the week while preparing for upcoming matchups without his offensive production.
Source: LakersNation
