Lakers' Austin Reaves to miss signifiant time with injury as team takes another blow before playoffs

The Los Angeles Lakers appeared to person taken different deed to their lineup with lone 5 games remaining earlier the playoffs tip-off.

The Lakers volition beryllium without Austin Reaves for the remainder of the regular play arsenic the defender suffered a near oblique musculus injury, ESPN archetypal reported connected Saturday. Reaves is reportedly expected to miss 4-6 weeks. The squad volition person a roadworthy crippled against the Dallas Mavericks connected Sunday.

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Los Angeles Lakers defender Austin Reaves drives against Oklahoma City Thunder defender Ajay Mitchell during the archetypal fractional of an NBA crippled successful Oklahoma City connected April 2, 2026. (Gerald Leong/AP)

The franchise aboriginal announced the injury.

Reaves has emerged arsenic 1 of the Lakers’ apical players since helium joined Los Angeles earlier the 2021-22 season. The erstwhile Oklahoma and Wichita State subordinate joined the Lakers arsenic an undrafted escaped agent. He started to gain starting clip during his 3rd play with the franchise.

The 27-year-old has played successful 51 games this year. He’s averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. He played 27 minutes successful the team’s 139-96 nonaccomplishment to the Oklahoma City Thunder connected Thursday night.

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Lakers defender Austin Reaves brings the shot up tribunal during the 2nd fractional against the Washington Wizards successful Los Angeles connected March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)

Word of Reaves’ season-ending ailment came a time aft the squad besides mislaid Luka Doncic for the remainder of the regular play with a near hamstring strain. Doncic was successful the moving for the NBA MVP grant and scored 600 points successful the period of March.

"Our mission, it hasn’t changed," Lakers caput manager J.J. Redick said earlier Saturday. "The remainder of these guys and my staff, we’re going aft the 3-seed, and we’re going to effort to triumph a playoff series."

Reaves volition beryllium eligible for a lucrative declaration hold successful the offseason if helium declines his subordinate enactment for the 2026-27 season. Reports indicated that Reaves volition apt diminution the option.

The Lakers’ last crippled of the play volition travel connected April 12 against the Utah Jazz.

Los Angeles Lakers defender Austin Reaves drives against Washington Wizards defender Will Riley during the 2nd fractional of an NBA crippled successful Los Angeles connected March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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