{"id":698353,"date":"2026-04-04T20:02:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T20:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698353\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T20:02:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T20:02:30","slug":"la-lakers-injury-nightmare-grows-with-just-5-games-left-in-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698353\/","title":{"rendered":"LA Lakers Injury Nightmare Grows With Just 5 Games Left in Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the worst possible time in the year, injuries are starting to pile up for the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After being a good but inconsistent team for much of the season, the Lakers\u00a0have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since early March. Following a March 5 defeat to the\u00a0Denver Nuggets<\/a>, LA won 13 of its next 14, including decisive wins over the\u00a0New York Knicks<\/a>,\u00a0Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a>, and\u00a0Houston Rockets<\/a>\u00a0(twice).<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, the good vibes and confidence were derailed this week when top star Luka Doncic<\/a> suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least the last five games of the regular season. The news means LA will be without a player averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per night for a little while. Well, it seems he isn\u2019t the only key player Lakers fans need to worry about.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves is now dealing with an injury, too?<\/p>\n

\u201cAustin Reaves got imaging on his oblique Saturday, and his status for Lakers vs Mavericks tomorrow is TBD. Marcus Smart is also TBD with an ankle injury,\u201d LA Times Lakers reporter Brad Turner<\/a> reported on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

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Obviously, both players are listed as to be determined, which can be seen as a positive. It isn\u2019t a diagnosis of being out for multiple days, weeks, or months. But they are both tricky injuries at a bad time.<\/p>\n

Smart has already missed a game this week due to an injured joint. It\u2019s an injury that can\u2019t be rushed, and the team must make sure he is ready for the playoffs when they start in a couple of weeks. And the 32-year-old should be. However, Reaves is a bigger concern.<\/p>\n

The forward\u2019s oblique is a new addition to the injury report, and even worse to have now than Smart\u2019s ankle. A Grade 1 pull could lead to being sidelined for up to three weeks. While a moderate strain or tear might mean up to two months on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Since Reaves hasn\u2019t been listed as out for the Mavericks game, he seems to have a Grade 1 strain. However, it does not rule out a nightmare scenario where the Lakers could be without their top two scorers for the rest of the season and possibly a game or two in the NBA Playoffs.<\/p>\n

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