The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a difficult stretch. Their 26-17 record appears solid on paper, but recent results tell a different story.
The team has dropped six of its last 10 games. Still, fans received encouraging news ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
NBA Insider Reveals Good News Regarding the Lakers
NBA insider Dave McMenamin reported on X that head coach JJ Redick said guard Austin Reaves is set to return from injury. Reaves could rejoin the lineup as early as Jan. 28 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
JJ Redick says until Austin Reaves is back which could occur as soon as Cleveland, the Lakers are going to stay with its starting lineup of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 25, 2026
Reaves’ injury dates back to Dec. 11, when Reaves was diagnosed with a mild left calf strain after a game against the San Antonio Spurs. The exact play that caused the injury was never identified, but signs of discomfort were evident.
In the game before that, Reaves scored 11 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. He followed with 15 points against the Spurs. Shortly after, he was sidelined and missed three consecutive games against the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers won two of those contests, but his absence was noticeable.
Reaves returned Dec. 23 against the Suns and also played against the Houston Rockets. However, he was not at full strength. He totaled 29 points across both games before being sidelined again with the same calf strain. He has since missed 14 straight games.
The Lakers have struggled without him. In their most recent outing, they fell 112-104 to the Clippers. The Clippers built a seven-point lead after the first quarter and extended it to 17 by halftime. They added 48 points in the second half, leaving the Lakers unable to keep pace.
Before the injury, Reaves was averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. His return is expected to provide a significant boost to the Lakers’ lineup. The Lakers have an 11-9 record without Reaves this season, and it will be interesting to see how they fare with him, James, and Luka Doncic fully healthy.
While the Lakers’ issues are mostly on defense, and Reaves is not exactly a needle‑mover on that end, his reintegration into the lineup will provide more offensive firepower that could overshadow those concerns. The timing is also interesting with the Feb. 5 trade deadline fast approaching.
