The Lakers just got a big boost ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets: Austin Reaves is officially available. After missing 19 straight games with a left calf strain, Reaves is finally ready to return to the floor - and not a moment too soon for a Lakers team looking to close out their lengthy road trip on a high note.
Reaves hasn’t suited up since Christmas Day, and this injury has been lingering since mid-December. He initially sat out three games, tried to give it a go, but was shut down again after just two outings.
The Lakers have taken a cautious approach since - and for good reason. Calf injuries can be tricky.
Push too hard, too soon, and you risk something far worse. Just ask Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles in the NBA Finals last season after dealing with calf issues.
Kevin Durant had a similar trajectory back in 2019. So when it comes to a player like Reaves - who’s become a critical piece of this Lakers core - the team’s patience has been more than justified.
Now, with the Lakers wrapping up their eight-game Grammy road trip, Reaves returns at a pivotal time. L.A. sits at 4-3 on the trip so far, and a win in Brooklyn would not only secure a winning record on the swing but could also serve as a much-needed momentum builder heading into the second half of the season. The Nets, for all their talent, have struggled this year - and this is the kind of game the Lakers need to capitalize on.
For Reaves, this is about more than just getting back on the court. Before the injury, he was playing at an All-Star level - and the numbers back it up.
He’s averaging career-highs across the board: 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc. That kind of production doesn’t just return overnight, but this game marks the first step in what the Lakers hope will be a strong second-half surge.
His return also means head coach JJ Redick can finally start getting a clearer picture of what this roster looks like at full strength. Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic have only shared the court in eight games this season - not nearly enough time to build the kind of chemistry needed for a deep playoff run. With Reaves back, Redick can begin to experiment with lineups, rotations, and minutes to find the right mix.
That said, don’t expect Reaves to be thrown into the deep end right away. The Lakers will continue to manage his workload carefully, likely keeping him on a minutes restriction as he ramps back up. The goal is long-term health - not just a short-term spark.
Reaves’ impact goes beyond scoring and playmaking. One of the more underrated aspects of his game is his ability to draw contact and get to the line.
He’s averaging nearly nine free throw attempts per game this season - a skill that hasn’t gone unnoticed around the league. Tyrese Haliburton, currently rehabbing from his Achilles injury, has reportedly been studying Reaves’ foul-drawing craft, looking to add that element to his own game.
Bottom line: Reaves is back, and that’s a big deal for the Lakers. If he can stay healthy and regain his pre-injury form, it changes the complexion of this team entirely. With the postseason race tightening and the Western Conference as competitive as ever, every edge matters - and Reaves gives L.A. a significant one.