Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves is out for the remainder of the regular season for the Lakers as he has suffered a serious oblique injury.
He has a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury that was picked up during the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to head coach JJ Redick, Reaves had to get a second MRI in Dallas because the team didn’t scan the right area the Lakers requested.
“Again, I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” coach JJ Redick said. “Not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned but they scanned the wrong area.”
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Reaves is the second key player the Lakers are losing to injury, after Luka Doncic was diagnosed with a left hamstring injury.
Doncic also picked up the injury against the Thunder, a game that was meant to cement the Lakers as a serious title contender in a loaded Western Conference.
However, the Lakers were run out of the gym early on by a Thunder team that is growing in confidence and health as the season progresses.
With the two top options out for the Lakers, LeBron James will be tasked with carrying a massive offensive load as the focal point of the offense and the only true ball-handler left on the team.
Reaves is expected to need three to four weeks to recover, while Doncic’s timeline is unclear. If either is not available for the postseason, the Lakers’ chances are slim to none.