Austin Reaves Returns as Lakers Seek to Close Out Rockets in Game 5

Key facts

• Reaves missed nine games with a left oblique muscle strain, including the final five regular-season games and first four playoff games.
• He produced 22 points and six assists in Game 5 off the bench.
• The Lakers led the series 3-0 before losing Game 4 to the Rockets.
• Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 regular-season games.
• Luka Doncic remains out with a strained right hamstring, with no return date set.
• Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. PT in Houston.
• for Game 6 and is expected to play.

Reaves Returns in Game 5 Loss

Austin Reaves made his long-awaited return to the court Wednesday night, checking into the game during the first quarter to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The Los Angeles Lakers guard had been sidelined for nine games with a strained left oblique muscle, missing the final five contests of the regular season and the first four of the postseason. Reaves finished with 22 points and six assists off the bench, his first appearance of the playoffs. Despite his efforts, the Lakers fell 99-93 to the Houston Rockets, who cut the series deficit to 3-1 and forced a Game 6 in Houston.

Emotional Return After Month-Long Absence

"As I ran out tonight, for the first time in a long time, I got a really good chills feeling with the atmosphere, the crowd," Reaves said after the game. "And I think that’s just because when something you love is taken away from you for four weeks with an injury and then you get thrown in the fire in a game like this. I could say I wouldn’t want it any other way, but I kind of do, but it was a lot of fun." The 26-year-old guard had not played since April 2, when he strained his oblique in the same game that Luka Doncic injured his right hamstring. Reaves returned to practice last week and had warmed up for the previous two games in Houston before being ruled out.

Lakers' Depth Tested Without Star Guards

The Lakers stunned the NBA by winning the first three games of the series without Doncic and Reaves, their top two scorers. LeBron James, at 41, has led the way, while Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart have stepped up impressively. Kennard scored 27 points in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2, and Smart added 25 points with five three-pointers in Game 2 while leading the defensive effort against Kevin Durant. However, the Rockets took Game 4 to push the series back to Los Angeles, and Wednesday's loss means the Lakers must now travel to Houston for Game 6 on Friday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. PT.

Reaves' Season and Contract Outlook

Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds during the regular season, but played in only 51 games due to two lengthy injury absences. In addition to the oblique strain, he missed 19 straight games from Christmas to February with a strained left calf. This summer, Reaves is eligible for a big new contract if he declines his player option for next season, as expected. Both Reaves and team officials have said they believe the guard will remain with the Lakers, his favorite team since childhood.

Doncic's Status and Game 6 Outlook

Luka Doncic, the NBA scoring champion, remains out with a strained right hamstring and does not appear close to a return. Coach JJ Redick said earlier this week that Doncic is expected to begin initial on-court work soon, but no date has been set for his return. Reaves was not listed on the on Thursday and is expected to play in Game 6. It remains unclear whether he will return to the starting lineup. The Lakers will need to close out the series in Houston to avoid a decisive Game 7 back in Los Angeles.

The bottom line

• Austin Reaves returned from a nine-game absence with 22 points and six assists in Game 5, but the Lakers lost 99-93 to the Rockets.
• The Lakers lead the series 3-1 after winning the first three games without Reaves and Luka Doncic.
• Reaves is expected to play in Game 6 on Friday in Houston and is not on the injury report.
• Luka Doncic remains out with a strained right hamstring, with no clear return timeline.
• Reaves averaged 23.3 points per game this season but missed 30 games due to two separate injuries.
• The Lakers' depth, led by LeBron James, Luke Kennard, and Marcus Smart, has been crucial in the series.