Austin Reaves Cleared to Play as Lakers Face Suns
austin-reaves-cleared-to-play-as-lakers-face-suns
The Los Angeles Lakers listed guard Austin Reaves as available for Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, according to the club’s latest injury report released on December 23.
Reaves, 27, has been sidelined since December 10 with a left calf strain. Because the Lakers played only three games during that stretch, the team went 2-1 in his absence.
Before the injury, the third-year guard was enjoying a career-best campaign. Over his first 21 starts, he averaged 27.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 36.9 minutes, shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three and 87.5 percent at the foul line. When healthy, his production, combined with Luka Dončić’s league-leading 34.1 points per game, has formed the NBA’s most prolific backcourt output.
Despite two separate three-game injury absences this season, Reaves remains on track to reach the 65-game threshold required for postseason award eligibility. Continued play at his current level could put him in the conversation for honors such as Most Improved Player.
The guard is also approaching a pivotal offseason. He is widely expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 and enter unrestricted free agency next summer.
Source: Hoops Rumors
