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Austin Reaves speaks with Lakers coach JJ Redick during a game as his return status remains unclear.

Austin Reaves has been waiting patiently in street clothes as his Los Angeles Lakers have rattled off two straight convincing playoff wins. 

The Lakers have jumped the Rockets, seizing early series momentum as the party moves to Houston. The new home team has one last chance to make this a series.

Especially if the Lakers get their second-best scorer back in the lineup, the Rockets are looking at a major hill to climb despite coming back home to play in front of their hopeful fans.

Lakers fans, star help may finally be on the way after a major pregame development involving Reaves.

Austin Reaves Status for Tonight’s Game 3 to Be Decided Soon

6:23 p.m. UPDATE: Austin Reaves has been ruled out for Friday’s Game 3, the Lakers announced.

As tip off approaches, the Lakers are ready to lock in a final decision on Reaves.

Reaves, 27, incurred a Grade 2 oblique strain just 22 days ago. While the team didn’t announce an estimated return timeline — head coach JJ Redick said multiple times Reaves fellow injured star Luka Doncic would be out “indefinitely” — several credible sources floated a 4-6 week window. 

Reaves is just at the start of the third week, so either the timeline those sources gave wasn’t accurate or Reaves’ injury wasn’t as bad as everyone made it seem. 

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 12: Marcus Smart #36, Austin Reaves #15 and Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch from the bench during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The Lakers are up 2-0, so aren’t exactly desperate to regain the services of Doncic or Reaves. They’d still want their stars back sooner than later to get some time to ease them back into the swing of things before a difficult second round series. 

According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin, the Lakers will decide whether Reaves plays tonight after they assess his condition during pregame warm ups.

“Austin Reaves will warm up at 5:45 – an hour and 15 minutes before tipoff – according to JJ Redick. ‘And we’ll make a decision from there,’ Redick said,” McMenamin wrote in an X post.

Lakers Sensing Commanding 3-0 Lead

If Reaves returns tonight, the Lakers could cruise to a Game 3 win. 

Reaves began his return-to-play process earlier this week at Lakers practice. Videos showed him taking part in drills and working with trainers, offering the first real sign his return was nearing. Now, he could be back in action as soon as tonight.

The Lakers will face a desperate Houston team tonight. The Rockets understand another loss effectively slams the door on their season. It would be a brutal way to go out, no doubt, against a Los Angeles team missing its top two scorers for the first two games. 

No team in NBA history has overcome an 0-3 deficit. Only four teams have even forced a Game 7 after trailing by three games. 

The Rockets have been hit with an unfortunate Kevin Durant development leading up to tip off. Yesterday, Durant was listed on the injury report with an ankle sprain; he has officially been ruled out of Friday’s Game 3. A gut-punch for Houston. 

With Durant sidelined for a second time this series and Reaves potentially returning, this first round clash continues to roll in the Lakers’ favor.

Especially if L.A. regains Reaves in the lineup tonight, all pressure will be on the road team to handle business and deliver the final knockout punch to Houston. 

Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Toyota Center.