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The Los Angeles Lakers appeared to have taken another hit to their lineup with just five games remaining before the playoffs tip-off.
The Lakers will be without Austin Reaves for the rest of the regular season after the guard suffered a left oblique muscle injury, ESPN first reported Saturday. Reaves is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. The team will have a road game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell during the first half of an NBA game in Oklahoma City on April 2, 2026. (Gerald Leong/AP)
The franchise later announced the injury.
Reaves has emerged as one of the Lakers’ top players since joining Los Angeles prior to the 2021-22 season. The former Oklahoma and Wichita State player joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent. He began earning starting time during his third season with the franchise.
The 27-year-old has played in 51 games this year. He is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. He played 27 minutes in the team’s 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives the ball upcourt during the second half against the Washington Wizards in Los Angeles on March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)
Word of Reaves’ season-ending ailment came a day after the team also lost Luka Doncic for the remainder of the regular season with a left hamstring strain. Doncic was in the running for the NBA MVP award and scored 600 points in the month of March.
“Our mission, it hasn’t changed,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said earlier Saturday. “The rest of these guys and my staff, we’re going for the 3 seed and we’re going to try to win a playoff series.”
Reaves will be eligible for a lucrative contract extension in the offseason if he declines his player option for the 2026-27 season. Reports indicated that Reaves is likely to decline the option.
The Lakers’ final game of the season comes on April 12 against the Utah Jazz.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives against Washington Wizards guard Will Riley during the second half of an NBA game in Los Angeles on March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)
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