The Los Angeles Lakers will be without guard Austin Reaves for Thursday night’s road matchup against the Utah Jazz, as he continues to recover from a calf strain. But there’s good news on the horizon-Reaves was back on the practice court Wednesday, signaling that his return might not be far off. The team is expected to re-evaluate him later this week, and all signs point to a positive trajectory.
Reaves has been nothing short of electric this season. He’s putting up All-Star caliber numbers, averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting a sharp 50.3% from the field and 36.9% from deep.
That’s not just solid production-it’s top-tier offensive output, especially considering the context. Early in the season, Reaves stepped into a larger role when LeBron James was sidelined with a sciatica issue, and he hasn’t looked back since.
He’s become a key engine in the Lakers’ offense, balancing scoring and playmaking with efficiency and poise.
With Reaves unavailable Thursday-and with Deandre Ayton ruled out and Gabe Vincent listed as questionable-the Lakers will be looking for other players to step up in Salt Lake City. That opens the door for Luka Doncic to take center stage, and frankly, he’s more than capable of seizing the moment.
Doncic is having a monster season, averaging 34.7 points per game while shooting 46.0% from the floor and 32.4% from three. He’s leading the league in usage rate, field goal attempts (23.1 per game), and three-point attempts (10.7 per game), and with Reaves out, there’s even more offensive responsibility for him to shoulder. That’s not a bad thing for the Lakers-Doncic thrives under pressure and volume.
He’s already had Utah’s number this season, dropping 37 and 33 points in their two previous matchups. And given the Jazz’s defensive struggles-they rank 29th in both defensive rating and opponent points per game-Doncic is walking into a highly favorable situation. The Jazz have had trouble containing elite scorers all season, and if the Lakers can’t create separation early, we could be in for another high-scoring showcase from the MVP candidate.
Austin Reaves (projected to miss a week with a mild left calf strain) is back on the practice court, getting up shots pic.twitter.com/XDqO77v1PZ
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 17, 2025
The Lakers have been solid against the spread this season, sitting at 16-9, but both of their earlier meetings with Utah were tight contests. That history suggests this one could stay close again, which only increases the likelihood that Doncic will need to carry a heavy offensive load deep into the game.
Bottom line: With Reaves sidelined and the Lakers shorthanded, Doncic is in prime position to deliver another statement performance. Keep an eye on how the Lakers adjust without one of their top playmakers, but also expect Doncic to take full advantage of the extra touches-and the Jazz’s porous defense.