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Austin Reaves speaks with Lakers coach JJ Redick during a game as his return finally gets a clear path.
Austin Reaves has been out for nearly a month after picking up a Grade 2 oblique strain on April 2 against the OKC Thunder. With his return looming, Reaves revealed what his coach, JJ Redick, told him while he was recovering.
According to Reaves, Redick never pressured him to return immediately, despite the Lakers’ need for firepower in the NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets. Reaves said Redick encouraged him to heal as much as he can before even considering a return to the court.
“JJ specifically was like, ‘you have to be comfortable with your body and what you can do to go out there and help us be successful,’” Reaves said in his first talk to the media in the playoffs.
Austin Reaves, who’s a gametime decision for tomorrow’s Game 5 vs. Houston, on the importance of feeling confidence in his body before returning to the court: “JJ specifically was like, ‘you have to be comfortable with your body and what you can do to go out there and help us be
Reaves added that he is now feeling well and could return to action as soon as Game 5, where the Lakers have a chance to close out the Rockets.
“And I want to get back out there as fast as I can. But like I said, I feel good and trending in the right direction and can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and attack another day,” he said.
Reaves was the team’s second-leading scorer in the regular season, putting up 23.3 points along with 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
The Lakers are also missing their top scorer, Luka Doncic, who is suffering from a hamstring injury and is not expected to be back in the first round.
Without Reaves and Doncic, the offensive load has been given to the 41-year-old LeBron James, who has carried the Lakers on his shoulders throughout the series. With James in tow, the Lakers led 3-0 before the Rockets got one on their home floor in Game 4.
GettyAustin Reaves closes in on a return with the Lakers.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Austin Reaves will be a game-time decision for the Lakers in Game 5 against the Rockets.
Barring any setbacks from his injury, Reaves will play for the Lakers in what could be a close-out victory that would set up a Round 2 clash between the Lakers and the defending champions OKC Thunder.
Reaves has been progressing well throughout the past week. Last week, he started joining some light drills with the Lakers, according to Charania, before moving on to more intense practices and high-volume scrimmages to prepare for a return to the floor.
Reaves’ return comes as a massive boost for the Lakers as they look to pounce on the homecourt advantage and the continued absence of Kevin Durant, who has nursed a knee injury since the start of the playoffs.
GettyLakers look to close out the Rockets in Game 5.
The Lakers and the Rockets will face off once more on Wednesday, April 29, in Los Angeles. Tip-off is at 10:00 Eastern time.
A Rockets victory could put the Lakers in a precarious position, as Game 6 would head back to Houston.
However, history is on the side of the Lakers as no one has ever recovered from a 0-3 deficit in the NBA playoffs.
Rob Andrew Lo Rob Andrew Lo is a writer at Heavy Sports and is covering the NBA. He has covered local, collegiate, professional and international sports in various sites. He was the sports editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas, and a sports, entertainment, and lifestyle writer for Rappler. A Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he has built his voice across both collegiate and international platforms, previously contributing NBA coverage to Fansided and Sportskeeda. More about Rob Andrew Lo
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