New Lakers Rumors on Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Injury Statuses for NBA Playoffs vs. Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly expected to remain without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves indefinitely during their first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

During Tuesday's episode of NBA Today, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that "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."

Los Angeles seemingly got good news on Thursday, as Reaves was upgraded to questionable for Game 3.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed as much while speaking with reporters Tuesday, noting that while Reaves has started a return to play progression, Doncic is not there yet:

Reaves, who is dealing with an oblique injury, could be on track for a return "late in this series, early in the next series, per Charania. Meanwhile, Doncic "is out indefinitely" with a hamstring strain, and the Lakers reportedly don't expect him to play in the series against the Rockets.

Doncic and Reaves were both ruled out for the remainder of the regular season on April 4, but the Lakers have managed to find success without the star duo. Los Angeles won its last three regular season games before earning a 107-98 win over Houston in Saturday's Game 1.

Still, it's clear that the Lakers would benefit from getting Doncic or Reaves back in the lineup. While the update on Doncic was grim, Charania noted that Reaves "has started one-on-one on-court work," and "the next step is for him to go through the progressions of three-on-three, five-on-five."

The Rockets were also depleted to start the series, as star forward Kevin Durant missed Game 1 with a right knee contusion. He's considered a game-time decision for Tuesday night's Game 2.

While Doncic and Reaves remain out, the Lakers will continue to rely on veteran guards Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart in the backcourt. Kennard led Los Angeles with 27 points in Saturday's victory, while Smart added 15 points and eight assists.

It will be an uphill climb without Doncic and Reaves, but the Lakers will fight to stay alive for as long as they can against the Rockets.