The Los Angeles Lakers entered Saturday with the mindset of potentially sitting the star guard, Austin Reaves.
When the team announced its original injury report for the action against the Orlando Magic, Reaves’ name was listed. He was questionable due to left hip soreness.
Saturday marked the second game in a row that Reaves was on the report. Similar to the last time, the Lakers will ultimately decide to roll out Reaves against the Orlando.
The Lakers Make The Final Decision On Austin Reaves vs Magic
The Lakers have upgraded Reaves on Saturday afternoon.
via Dave McMenamin, ESPN: Austin Reaves (left hip soreness) has been upgraded to available tonight in Orlando, per the Lakers
Earlier this week, Reaves and the Lakers opened up a back-to-back set against the Houston Rockets on March 18. Reaves checked in for 38 minutes. He shot 4-9 from the field, hitting on just one three-pointer. He finished the game with 14 points, eight assists, and three rebounds.
The Lakers traveled to Florida to take on the Miami Heat to close out the set. It was a monster night for the star duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Reaves contributed 18 points by shooting 5-12 from the field, going 2-7 from beyond the arc. He came down with five rebounds and produced four assists. The Lakers took down the Heat with a score of 134-126.
A Pivotal Season For Reaves
Austin Reaves has been having a major season with the Lakers.
After starting hot, he went through a long recovery phase after dealing with an injury during the Christmas Day loss against the Rockets.
Reaves made his return on February 3, and eased his way back into the starting lineup. Although he’s been dealing with a minor ailment, Reaves has been a solid complementary player to LA’s thriving superstars.
In 44 games, Reaves has averaged 23.5 points (49.4% FG, 36.6% 3PT), 5.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game.
The Lakers and the Magic are tipping off at 7 PM ET.
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