Austin Reaves Reports Feeling ‘Great’ Physically as All-Star Break Nears
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves said he is physically “great” after Thursday night’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks, capping his first stretch of games since returning from a left calf injury that sidelined him for 22 of 24 contests.
Reaves, 27, rejoined the lineup on Feb. 3 against the Brooklyn Nets and has been operating under a minutes limit ever since, staying under the 30-minute mark in all five appearances. Despite the restriction, he has reclaimed his role as a primary creator, highlighted by a 35-point outing on 12-for-17 shooting in a comeback win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 5.
“I feel great,” Reaves said postgame Thursday. “My legs are a little tired, but that’s just part of getting back into basketball shape and playing road games. I’ll feel even better when I’m on a golf course in the morning.”
Los Angeles struggled with pace and playmaking during Reaves’ absence, a void underscored by the team’s immediate uptick since his return. The guard is expected to shed his minutes cap once the club returns from the upcoming All-Star break.
Redick: Injuries Shaped First Half
Head coach JJ Redick attributed much of the team’s first-half inconsistency to injuries. He noted that Reaves, LeBron James and Luka Dončić have shared the court only 10 times this season.
“If you had told me in September we’d be top five in the West after everything we’ve dealt with, I’d take it,” Redick said, pointing to a 14-game surge marred only by a recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Lakers enter the break positioned fifth in the Western Conference.
Source: Lakers Nation
