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Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) at the free throw line during a game against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, March 30, 2026.

There is now a realistic possibility that the Los Angeles Lakers will get star guard Austin Reaves back before the end of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets — possibly for Game 5 on April 29.

On Tuesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed reports that Reaves had resumed 1-on-1 drills for the first time since being diagnosed with a grade 2 oblique strain on April 3. Reaves was expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks of action following his injury. However, it would appear he could return sooner than expected.

“Austin [Reaves] has started a return to play [progression] but we don’t have a timeline update on him,” Redick said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Austin Reaves Injury Update

While reacting to Redick’s comments, sports medicine expert Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT, outlined a realistic Austin Reaves return timeline and the next steps for the Lakers star.

“This ramp up process typically takes 1 week in the regular season from 1-1 work, 3-3 work [and] 5-5 work. Then a player is cleared to return,” Jeffries wrote on X.

Assuming Reaves will be cleared in a week, he could return for Game 5 on April 29 or Game 6 on May 1 — unless he suffers a setback in his rehab process.

ESPN’s Shams Charania also reported Tuesday that Reaves was on track to return sooner than Luka Doncic, who continues to rehab from a grade 2 hamstring strain.

“The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is actually the one that’s further along than Luka Doncic in their respective rehab processes,” he told “NBA Today.”

“I am told Austin Reaves has started 1 on 1 on court work. The Lakers are not expecting Luka Doncic to be back in this series. He is out indefinitely.”

Lakers Take 2-0 Lead vs Rockets

The good news for the Lakers is that they ensured their first-round playoff series will extend to at least Game 6 on May 1, by which time Reave could be cleared for a return.

With Doncic and Reaves sidelined for a second consecutive game, LeBron James carried the Lakers with a spectacular performance, finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead them to a 101-94 win at home.

“We executed the game plan offensively and defensively, shored up some of our mistakes from Game 1, and just got into a dogfight,” James said after the win.

“When we have two big guns out like we have, we’ve all got to pick up our play, and that’s all it’s about. We’re all just trying to make contributions on offense and seize the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Marcus Smart finished with 25 points and seven assists, while Luke Kennard added 23 points after his career-best playoff outing in Game 1. Smart was also a beast defensively on Tuesday, keeping a returning Kevin Durant in check.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick had a lot of praise for Smart after the win.

“He just had a killer game tonight,” Redick said of Smart.

“He did a great job defensively, made shots. He’s an unbelievable player.”

The Lakers will take a 2-0 lead into Game 3 in Houston on Friday. Redick’s team is now a -135 favorite to win the series after entering as a +440 underdog.