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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 29, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Star guard Austin Reaves (oblique injury) is listed as questionable for tonight’s Game 4 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.

Reaves will reportedly be a game-time decision, as the Lakers attempt to sweep the Rockets and advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs.

The 27-year-old Reaves sustained a grade 2 oblique strain on April 2. At the time of his injury, he was expected to miss four to six weeks of action. Based on that timeline, Reaves remains ahead of schedule for a potential return.

The Athletic’s Dan Woike has hinted that the Lakers are erring on the side of caution with Reaves, given that they already hold a commanding 3-0 lead over the Rockets and are not under pressure to rush the Arkansas native back.

Austin Reaves Injury Update

Earlier this week, Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed that Reaves had progressed in his rehab and had begun 1-on-1 workouts. Typically, injured NBA players take about a week to progress from 1-on-1 to 3-on-3 and then to 5-on-5 before being cleared to return. Following Redick’s comments, many circled Game 5 on April 29 against the Rockets as a realistic Austin Reaves return date. That’s why many were shocked when Reaves was upgraded to questionable for Friday’s Game 3 in Houston.

“Austin has progressed to 1-on-1 workouts coming off a grade 2 oblique strain.” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on the “Howdy Partners” podcast on Wednesday.

“We originally reported a 4-to-6 week timeline. Game 5 would be one day short of four weeks, so you have to start to look at that as a theoretical possibility.”

Lakers Thrive Without Austin Reaves

The Lakers may not need to rush Reaves or Luka Doncic (hamstring) back, given that teams are 159-0 when they go up 3-0 in the history of the NBA playoffs. As such, history suggests the Lakers will close out the Rockets with or without Reaves.

Lakers guard Marcus Smart, who has stepped up his scoring and playmaking amid injuries to Reaves and Doncic, made some interesting comments after Friday’s win, suggesting that the injuries have elevated the “confidence” of the rest of the roster.

“With two of our best players down, we gotta play desperate, we gotta be the most desperate team — and that’s how we’ve been playing,” said Smart, who has averaged 20.3 points, 8.3 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.7 blocks through the first three wins.

“And that’s how we’re winning, right? The chemistry has been built because of [the injuries],” Smart continued. “And you’re starting to see guys’ confidence go up.”

Lakers vs Rockets Game 4 tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.