Lakers Thunder Basketball

Austin Reaves will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers’ regular season with a Grade 2 oblique muscle injury. Reaves and Luka Doncic are both sidelined for at least the next five games for the Lakers, throwing a major complication into Los Angeles’ postseason hopes. Doncic is out for at least the next two weeks after straining his left hamstring in the Lakers’ blowout loss to Oklahoma City. Reaves also got injured in the first half of that loss to the Thunder on Thursday, but he returned to the game. He is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are finished for the rest of the regular season due to injuries, and the Los Angeles Lakers could finish anywhere from third to fifth in the Western Conference playoff race. For now, the Lakers will lean on LeBron James as their primary scorer and floor leader. Coach JJ Redick agrees he has to be mindful that the 41-year-old is wrapping up his record 23rd NBA season. Doncic has a hamstring strain and Reaves is out with an oblique issue. Marcus Smart also is sidelined by an ankle injury. Their status for the playoffs is up in the air with five games remaining in the regular season.