The Los Angeles Lakers squared off in opposition to their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, and whereas the sport was nonetheless in progress, the Lakers ended up somewhat extra short-handed than earlier than. Lakers beginning guard Austin Reaves was dominated out for the rest of the sport in opposition to the Clippers attributable to a calf damage, as per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Coming into the sport, the Lakers had been already down one starter attributable to Rui Hachimura being dominated out attributable to a knee damage. Hachimura suffered the damage throughout the third quarter of the Lakers’ 111-102 win in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
He left the sport and didn’t return, though Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed optimism that the damage wasn’t extreme. Dorian Finney-Smith bought the beginning in Hachimura’s place in opposition to the Clippers.
The Lakers consideration will now flip to Austin Reaves and discovering out the severity of his calf damage. An up to date prognosis possible will not come till the weekend a while. The Lakers are scheduled to sq. off in opposition to the Clippers once more on Sunday.
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Since shifting into the full-time level guard function earlier this season, Reaves has had a breakout season. He is absolutely embraced being a main ball-handler and decision-maker, whereas now settling in a 3rd scoring choice function alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Reaves has appeared in 51 video games this season to this point, at somewhat over 34 minutes per recreation. He is been averaging 19.2 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals with splits of 44.6 p.c capturing from the sector, 36 p.c capturing from the three-point line and 86.5 p.c capturing from the free-throw line. His factors, assists and steals are all career-highs.
Reaves dropped a career-high 45 factors in a win in opposition to the Indiana Pacers on Feb.8, a recreation that neither James nor Doncic performed. Within the Lakers’ win in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, Reaves had a triple double with 26 factors, ten rebounds and ten assists.
If Reaves’ calf damage causes him to overlook prolonged time, that may very well be a serious blow for the Lakers throughout the remaining stretch of the common season. This story will proceed to be up to date as extra info turns into accessible.