Austin Reaves Diagnosed with Oblique Injury, Latest on Lakers Star's Status, NBA Playoffs Timeline
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique injury on Saturday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Per Charania, Reaves is "expected to miss four to six weeks" due to the injury and will be sidelined to begin the playoffs.
He suffered the injury in the first half of Los Angeles' 139-96 defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, briefly entering the Lakers' locker room before returning to the game.
Reaves underwent an MRI on his left oblique area on Saturday, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Head coach JJ Redick told reporters that Reaves needed two MRIs because the first scan wasn't conducted properly.
The Lakers have been hit hard by injuries as of late, as Luka Dončić is also set to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.
Charania noted Saturday that the expectation is Dončić won't be ready for the start of the playoffs.
As for Reaves, he'll end the regular season with a career-low 51 games played. He previously missed time after suffering a left calf strain.
Availability issues weren't common for Reaves heading into this season, as he appeared in 155 of a possible 164 games over the past two years combined.
Despite his health woes, he continued to operate as a key piece of Los Angeles' offense throughout his 2025-26 campaign. He's averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three-point territory.
The Lakers own a plus-5.0 net rating with Reaves on the floor this season compared to a minus-2.2 net rating with him off (via NBA.com).
Los Angeles has already clinched a postseason spot, sitting at No. 3 in the Western Conference standings with a 50-27 record.
The playoffs will begin on April 18.
