Brooklyn, N.Y. — Guard Austin Reaves rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night and helped power a road win over the Brooklyn Nets, ending the club’s eight-game trip on a high note.
Playing for the first time in roughly a month after a right-calf injury, Reaves came off the bench at Barclays Center under a minutes restriction imposed by head coach JJ Redick. He logged 21 minutes, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Although his outside shot was inconsistent, the third-year guard repeatedly reached the foul line, converting eight of 10 free-throw attempts. “Felt good. It was good to be back out here. I’ve been pretty bored for a month now, so it’s good to be back,” Reaves told Spectrum SportsNet after the game.
Reaves said the rehabilitation process had its share of setbacks. “It was just trying to do the right things every day … one day you might feel good and the next you might not. Wish I was back a little sooner, but like I said it’s good to be back. It’s miserable when I’m not playing, I’m pretty bored,” he added.
The Lakers opted to keep Reaves sidelined until he was cleared medically, and the 27-year-old looked physically sharp, showing his usual burst and quickness even as his shooting rhythm lagged.
Reaves’ ability to draw contact has caught the attention of Tyrese Haliburton, who is rehabbing an Achilles tear suffered in the 2025 playoffs. The Indiana Pacers star said he has been studying film of Reaves to improve his own knack for getting to the stripe while he continues his recovery.
Source: LakersNation.com
