{"id":717318,"date":"2026-04-24T23:39:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T23:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/717318\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T23:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T23:39:15","slug":"lakers-announce-starting-lineup-decision-for-game-3-after-austin-reaves-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/717318\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Announce Starting Lineup Decision For Game 3 After Austin Reaves News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Austin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on December 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. <\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> are playing the Houston Rockets<\/a> in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on Friday night, in a matchup that will not feature star guard Austin Reaves.<\/a><\/p>\n

Reaves had been out since early April with a grade 2 hamstring strain, but after being listed as questionable earlier in the day, he was later downgraded to out for Game 3, according to the latest injury updates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite initial hopes, Reaves will now have to wait for his return and playoff debut this season. In the meantime, the Lakers announced their starting lineup<\/a> and final injury report against the Rockets.<\/p>\n

Lakers Starting Lineup For Game 3 vs Rockets<\/p>\n

Before Game 3, the Lakers took to social media<\/a> to announce their starting lineup for Friday night.<\/p>\n

Luke Kennard<\/a>, Marcus Smart<\/a>, Rui Hachimura<\/a>, LeBron James<\/a>, and Deandre Ayton<\/a> all got the nod as starters by head coach JJ Redick<\/a> and his staff.<\/p>\n

This has been the lineup the Lakers have used through the first two games of the playoff against the Rockets. Both Kennard and Smart have put together impressive, and even record-setting performance<\/a>s.<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s been James leading the way<\/a> for Los Angeles to start the playoffs, and while there was hope Reaves would make an injury return, the Lakers are still in the driver\u2019s seat in the series, and could see him back in Game 4.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves Injury Return For Game 3\"Austin<\/p>\n

GettyMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE \u2013 MARCH 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> at FedExForum on March 29, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

While Reaves was questionable before Game 3, updates throughout the day signaled that he would make his injury return on Friday.<\/p>\n

First, members of The Hoop Collective<\/a> podcast speculated that with Reaves listed as questionable, it was almost a guarantee that he would suit up for the Lakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAustin Reaves is gonna play Friday, barring some (pregame) setback,\u201d Tim Bontemps said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce they\u2019re upgraded to questionable and they\u2019ve been ramping up, it\u2019s pretty rare to see a guy not be able to go, unless there\u2019s some sort of road block right at the end,\u201d Tim McMahon added.<\/p>\n

Then, speaking on NBA Today<\/a>, insiders Shams Charania reiterated that sentiment.<\/p>\n

.@ShamsCharania<\/a> gives updates on some of the biggest stars in question for Game 3 tonight:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc7d Victor Wembanyama
\n\ud83c\udf34 Austin Reaves
\n\ud83d\ude80 Kevin Durant
\n\ud83d\udd14 Joel Embiid <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s getting closer to coming back from a grade 2 oblique injury,\u201d he said. \u201cMy understanding is that Austin Reaves is trying to play in Game 3 tonight, if not Game 3 then Game 4.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, before the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick had said that Reaves would go through warmups<\/a>, and if things went well, he would be upgraded to available.<\/p>\n

\u201cJJ Redick says Austin Reaves will test things on court here in the next 15 minutes \u2013 decision after,\u201d team insider Dan Woike wrote<\/a> in a pregame post on X.<\/p>\n

JJ Redick says Austin Reaves will test things on court here in the next 15 minutes \u2013 decision after.<\/p>\n

But despite all of that, Reaves was ruled out less than an hour before tipoff. As Charania had mentioned, instead of making his injury return on Friday in Game 3, Reaves will target Game 4 instead.<\/p>\n

Reaves has only been out for just over three weeks, and with his four-to-six-week recovery timeline<\/a>, coming back either in Game 3 or 4 would mean his return has been sped up.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Lakers Injury Report Vs Rockets\"Luka<\/p>\n

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA \u2013 MARCH 31: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.<\/p>\n

Star player Luka Doncic<\/a> remains out, as he and Reaves are the only two listed on the Lakers\u2019 injury report.<\/a> Doncic is not expected to play in the series, but could very well return, should Los Angeles advance to the second round.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lakers are not expecting Luka Doncic to be back in this series,\u201d Charania said previously.<\/a> \u201cHe is out indefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doncic has been seen doing light on-court work for the Lakers<\/a>, but as Redick has also said, he remains sidelined, without an official return timeline.<\/p>\n

Additionally, in what is more good news for the Lakers, Kevin Durant<\/a> has been ruled out for Game 3 with a lingering ankle injury. He was previously a game-time decision, but later it was confirmed<\/a> that he wouldn\u2019t play in what is a must-win game for the Rockets.<\/p>\n

String of bad luck for Durant \u2014 tendon bruise suffered in practice that sidelined him for Game 1, now an ankle sprain suffered in Game 2 holding him out following swelling and around-clock treatment \u2014 after being healthy all season. https:\/\/t.co\/j6vjAuWgoC<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

While there was a growing hope that Reaves would play in Game 3, he\u2019ll now have to wait to make his playoff debut for the Lakers this postseason.<\/p>\n

Lakers vs Rockets tips off on Friday, April 24, at \u00a05 pm PST and will be live on Amazon Prime Video.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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