All eyes are on Austin Reaves to see if he laces up for a pivotal Game 5 of the playoff skirmish between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.
The Lakers lead the series 3-1 and will face the Rockets at 10 p.m. ET, with a chance to advance to the second round. Reaves’ availability, if cleared, will be a major boost for the Purple and Gold.
Austin Reaves Injury Update: Will the Lakers Guard Play Game 5 Against the Rockets?
At the time of writing, Reaves will be a game-time decision for a third straight game. Per ESPN insider Shams Charania, there are reasons to hope that the guard will suit up.
“There’s significant hope around his status, barring a setback,” Charania wrote in his latest report. “He has progressed in his rehab over the last one to two weeks, from one-on-one workouts to larger group scrimmages, sources said.”
Reaves has not played since he suffered his oblique injury on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He missed the final five games of the regular season and the four playoff games so far. The other good sign for the Lakers was his steady progress and his presence on the bench alongside superstar Luka Dončić during the playoffs.
Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves is optimistic to return to action in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night after missing about four weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain, sources tell ESPN. Reaves will be a game-time decision for the third consecutive contest. pic.twitter.com/gT6nYaEPY1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 28, 2026
The recovery timeline for a Grade 2 oblique strain was about four to six weeks, and the fifth-year star has missed about four weeks. With Charania’s report suggesting increased group scrimmages, the Lakers might see him play, though a minutes restriction will likely be in place.
It has been a solid season for Reaves, who has morphed into a lethal offensive weapon for LA behind the Slovenian. He averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, while shooting 49% from the field and 36.0% from the 3-point line.
The latest comes on the back of Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s take on what the side missed after their Game 4 loss in Houston. “I think that’s the biggest challenge we have, just ball-handling and downhill drivers, not having those guys,” he told the reporters, per LakersNation.
Reaves’ potential return brings the scoring boost, playmaking, and relieves some of the load on LeBron James, who has been pivotal to the team’s success. While there can be some expected rust after missing considerable time on the hardwood, the guard will still add more teeth to a side looking to wind up the series on Wednesday.
On the playoffs front, it has been a collective effort for the Lakers with the likes of DeAndre Ayton, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, and Rui Hachimura all punching well above their weight to help the team take a commanding 3-0 lead before losing Game 4. Only time will tell if Reaves’ potential availability will help them close out the Rockets on Wednesday.
