The Los Angeles Lakers will be without starting guard Austin Reaves for a minimum of one week after he was diagnosed with a mild strain in his left calf, the team announced Friday.
Reaves, 27, will be re-evaluated in seven days. During that span, the Lakers are scheduled to visit the Phoenix Suns on Sunday and the Utah Jazz next Thursday, games the 6-5 guard is expected to miss.
The injury interrupts a standout start to the season for Reaves. Through 21 appearances, he is averaging career highs of 27.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds while logging 36.9 minutes per game. He has been highly efficient, shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent at the free-throw line, good for a .665 true shooting percentage. Reaves previously sat out three games in early November because of a right groin issue.
With Reaves sidelined, Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart are the leading candidates for additional backcourt minutes. LeBron James is also expected to shoulder more of the team’s playmaking duties during Reaves’ absence.
Source: Hoops Rumors
