Dave McMenaminFeb 4, 2026, 05:35 AM
CloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
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NEW YORK — Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves returned to the lineup Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.
Reaves, sidelined the past five weeks with a strained left calf, came off the bench and was expected to be on a minutes restriction.
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“I think we’ve missed him in every facet,” coach JJ Redick said. “Both as an on-ball player, off-ball player, a connector, leadership on the court, competitive spirit — competitive spirit defensively. So, he’s an All-Star-level player, and of course, you’re going to miss him in a number of ways.”
Reaves, 27, was enjoying a career season before tweaking his left calf Dec. 10 in a 132-119 loss to the San Antonio Spurs and then suffering a separate strain of the calf two weeks later in a 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
Prior to the injury, Reaves was averaging 26.6 points on 50.7% shooting from the floor, with 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.
The Lakers went 10-9 without Reaves since the Rockets game.