Update: Austin Reaves was upgraded to Questionable for Game 4, but was ruled OUT before tipoff.
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have both been sidelined since suffering injuries on April 2, but the Lakers appear to be operating with different timelines for the two players as their first-round series against the Houston Rockets continues.
Dončić suffered a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring and remains out indefinitely. The Lakers do not expect him to return during the first round against Houston, with the focus instead on avoiding a setback that could jeopardize a longer postseason run.
Reaves suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain in the same game and appears to be further along in his recovery. He has progressed to one-on-one court work, though he still must advance through three-on-three and five-on-five activity before he can return. Even so, he remains on track to be back before Dončić.
That outlook matches what Pro Football Doc said earlier this week.
“Luka’s target is Round 2 because, as we talked about, if Game 1 is too early, he aggravates it, then he’s out for the rest of the playoffs kind of situation,” Pro Football Doc said Monday. “I think the Lakers are going to need to try and get by Houston without Luka. Austin Reaves will be back before Luka.”
For the Lakers, the immediate challenge now appears to be finding a way through the Rockets series while waiting on Dončić, while hoping Reaves can continue progressing toward a return in the meantime.
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