Reaves, Durant Ruled Out for Lakers-Rockets Game 3
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The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday ruled guard Austin Reaves out of Game 3 of their first-round series against the Houston Rockets because of a left oblique muscle strain.
The decision comes one day after Reaves had been upgraded to questionable. The 27-year-old has missed the first two games of the postseason with what the team classified as a Grade 2 strain, an injury that typically requires four to six weeks of recovery. Although he has begun light on-court activity, medical staff opted to keep him sidelined to allow additional healing time.
Houston will also be without a key starter. The Rockets listed forward Kevin Durant as out with a left ankle sprain suffered in Game 2. The 37-year-old had already sat out Game 1 because of a right knee contusion.
With both players unavailable, Los Angeles enters Friday’s matchup at Toyota Center holding a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
Lakers guard Luka Dončić, rehabbing from an unspecified injury, has not progressed to on-court work. Team officials indicated he would not be ready before a possible second-round appearance. Forward Jake LaRavia, who turned an ankle earlier in the week, was not listed on Thursday’s injury report after head coach JJ Redick called the issue minor.
Center Deandre Ayton said Redick and LeBron James have emphasized maintaining focus despite the team’s early series lead.
Source: Lakers Nation
