Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves returned to action on December 23, 2025, after missing three games with a calf strain, posting 17 points, two rebounds and two assists in a 122-95 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
The third-year guard logged 22 minutes off the bench under a predetermined minutes restriction. Reaves acknowledged feeling winded early but said his conditioning improved as the game progressed.
“I was pretty tired the first couple of minutes, but after that it felt good,” Reaves told Spectrum SportsNet. He added that by the second quarter he had “caught a decent rhythm” and was able to attack the rim more comfortably.
Reaves learned he would come off the bench during his pre-game shooting routine after a conversation with assistant coach Beau Levesque. He explained that starting would have been difficult while staying within the 25-to-27-minute limit set by the medical staff. “I was open to whatever,” he said. “It definitely felt weird coming off the bench, but it’s basketball at the end of the day.”
The 25-year-old is uncertain whether his minutes will increase when Los Angeles hosts the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day but indicated he feels ready for a heavier workload if cleared. “I felt good out there, so I feel like I should be able to just go out there and play,” he said.
Head coach JJ Redick has repeatedly praised Reaves, recently stating he has always believed the guard could become an NBA All-Star. Reaves is averaging career highs across several categories in Redick’s first season at the helm.
Source: LakersNation.com
