It’s been a while since the Los Angeles Lakers were at full strength.
Austin Reaves hasn’t appeared in a game since Christmas Day due to a calf strain, leaving the Warriors without their breakout star and No. 2 scoring option.
A new injury update regarding Reaves isn’t great news for the Lakers as they prepare to face the Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
“Austin Reaves is NOT available for Wednesday's game against Cleveland, as of right now,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel wrote Tuesday. “The Lakers just ruled him OUT.”
Without Reaves in the Lakers’ lineup, it’ll be challenging for the 17-time NBA champions to reach their full potential. Although a Reaves-Luka Doncic duo is a recipe for disaster on the defensive end, it’s a dynamic offensive tandem that isn’t easy to contain consistently.
With Doncic playing out of his mind in January, the Lakers have managed to survive with Reaves sidelined with a nagging lower-body injury.
The former Dallas Mavericks star is averaging 34.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game in January, shooting 49.1% from the field and 38.6% from three on a Lakers squad that boasts a healthy 28-17 record.
If Doncic continues to take control of contests early and often, the Lakers should be able to navigate live without Reaves for a little while longer.
More NBA: Former Lakers guard seeking NBA comeback, but not with Los Angeles