The Los Angeles Lakers ruled out guard Austin Reaves at halftime of their Christmas Day matchup with the Houston Rockets because of soreness in his left calf.
Reaves logged 15 minutes before departing, posting 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting along with one rebound, one assist and one block at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Injury resurfaced after recent return
The 25-year-old had just come back Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns after missing multiple games with a left calf strain. He played on a minutes limit in that outing, but the restriction was lifted for Sunday’s contest.
The Lakers have not announced a timetable for Reaves’s return. Calf issues can linger, and the club is expected to handle the guard cautiously to prevent further complications.
Backcourt responsibilities shift
With Reaves sidelined, Luka Doncic and LeBron James are expected to handle the bulk of the playmaking duties, while Marcus Smart is likely to absorb additional minutes in the backcourt.
Redick’s high expectations
Head coach JJ Redick has been vocal about Reaves’s potential since taking over the team. “You’re gonna be an All-Star,” Redick recalled telling Reaves during their first conversation. The coach said he is inclined to “bet on guys that are wired a certain way.”
The Lakers will release further updates on Reaves’s status as more information becomes available.
Source: LakersNation.com
