Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick explained his decision to leave star guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves in the game during the team’s 139-96 walloping by the OKC Thunder on Thursday.
Dončić looked visibly uncomfortable, clutching his hamstring in the first half. As for Reaves, he went into the locker room after an apparent lower back issue.
Despite their injuries, head coach JJ Redick stuck with them in the second half and Dončić went down in a ton of pain with a non-contact hamstring injury. Redick is now receiving a ton of heat for not sitting his two banged-up stars.
Why JJ Redick Played Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves Through Injuries
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the disappointing loss, Redick said Dončić was cleared to play after the team’s medical staff checked him out in the first half.
“We checked him out. He got work done, but he was cleared. We’re not gonna put a player at risk,” Redick said. “Those things happen.”
When asked if he considered pulling Dončić and Reaves, Redick said “it was discussed at halftime.”
“Thought we’d give those guys about six minutes, and if we didn’t cut into the lead, we were gonna pull them,” he added. “Obviously, it was around that time, I don’t remember the exact time, [the injury] happened.”
JJ Redick on the decision to play Luka in the second half even though he was grabbing his hamstring in the first half:
“We checked him out. He got work done, but he was cleared. We’re not gonna put a player at risk. Those things happen.”
On if he thought about sitting guys like…
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 3, 2026
In the same presser, Redick also shared an update on Reaves.
“He was in a weird position stretching for a basketball, a loose ball, and just felt something intercostal, something in his back in between the ribs. He was able to play through it and battled back. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
JJ Redick on Austin Reaves’ back injury:
“He was in a weird position stretching for a basketball, a loose ball, and just felt something intercostal, something in his back in between the ribs. He was able to play through it and battled back. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 3, 2026
Reaves was seen grabbing at the left side of his lower back for several minutes before checking out and heading back to the locker room with 2:25 remaining in the opening quarter.
The injuries could not have come at a worse time for the playoff-bound Lakers. After playing impressive ball to reach 50 wins for the second consecutive season, the Purple and Gold will be sweating over the fitness of their ace backcourt duo.
Dončić propped up 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting from the field and 1-of-7 from the 3-point line. He recorded 4 rebounds and 7 assists in his 26 minutes of action before exiting the game.
Reaves ended his evening with 15 points and was 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-3 from downtown, while adding 4 rebounds and 1 assist.
The Lakers will hope to have their key players in action and ready for the playoffs. Up next, they play the Dallas Mavericks on the road to finish their two-game away trip and return to LA to host the Thunder.
