The Lakers are still navigating life without Austin Reaves, but there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel.
After Sunday night’s loss to the New York Knicks, head coach JJ Redick gave an encouraging update on Reaves’ status. The versatile guard has been sidelined since Christmas Day with a calf strain he suffered in a loss to Houston, and his absence has been felt across the board - particularly in the team’s playmaking and perimeter scoring.
Redick told reporters that there's optimism Reaves could return for the Lakers' next game against the Brooklyn Nets, though he emphasized that the guard remains day-to-day. The key, Redick said, is Reaves having “100 percent confidence” in his calf before stepping back on the court - a sign the team is prioritizing long-term health over rushing him back.
That caution makes sense. Reaves isn’t just a plug-and-play role player - he’s a connector, the kind of guard who fills gaps, keeps the offense humming, and gives LeBron James and Luka Doncic a bit of breathing room. Without him, both stars have taken on heavier loads, and while they’ve kept the Lakers afloat, there’s no question the team is missing Reaves’ steady hand.
Sunday’s loss at Madison Square Garden was another example of that. The Lakers looked sharp early, taking a 56-52 lead into halftime. But things unraveled in the second half, where they were outscored 60-44 by a Knicks team that turned up the defensive pressure and capitalized on L.A.’s stagnant offense.
Luka Doncic did everything he could to keep the Lakers in it, finishing with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. He shot 10-of-23 from the field, including 5-of-14 from deep, and knocked down five of six free throws.
LeBron added 22 points and six assists, while Deandre Ayton chipped in 13 points and five boards. Rui Hachimura rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points.
Still, the Lakers couldn’t keep pace in the second half, and the loss dropped them to 29-19 on the season. That puts them seventh in the Western Conference - above Phoenix and Golden State, but still trailing teams like Minnesota and Houston.
Now comes a chance to reset. The Lakers will wrap up their long road trip with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on February 3rd. Whether or not Reaves suits up for that one remains to be seen, but his return would be a welcome boost for a team that’s been grinding through a tough stretch without one of its most important pieces.
The Lakers have managed to stay in the hunt, but if they want to climb the standings and make a serious postseason push, getting Reaves back - and keeping him healthy - will be critical.