The Los Angeles Lakers took a beating on Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The scoreboard was bad. The injury news was worse.
Austin Reaves strained his back in the first quarter and made a trip to the locker room. Luka Doncic left in the third quarter with a hamstring strain and will undergo an MRI on Friday. It was that kind of night in Oklahoma City.
At least on the Reaves front, there is reason for optimism.
What Reaves Said About His Back
GettyLakers guard Austin Reaves.
Reaves was holding his back for much of the first quarter before checking out to get evaluated. He returned and played through the injury, though the discomfort was visible at times in the second half.
After the game, Reaves offered an encouraging update.
“I feel decent now,” Reaves said. “We’ll see.”
He explained that he received treatment at halftime that allowed him to continue. The injury occurred on a routine play that took an awkward turn.
“I went back to get a rebound, overextended a little bit and felt something,” Reaves said.
Coach JJ Redick added context on how the injury happened and what he saw from his guard afterward.
“He was in a weird position stretching for a basketball, a loose ball,” Redick said. “Just felt 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.”
The fact that Reaves played through the injury and felt better postgame is encouraging. The Lakers do not play again until Sunday in Dallas, giving him an extra day to receive treatment and recover. That additional time could be the difference in his availability against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Doncic Situation
GettyLuka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers.
The more pressing concern leaving Thursday’s game is Doncic. In the third quarter, Doncic pulled up on a jumper and immediately grabbed the back of his left leg. He hobbled to the baseline before going to the locker room and did not return.
He will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the severity of the hamstring strain. Redick confirmed that Doncic had received treatment at halftime for the hamstring and was cleared by the training staff to continue before the injury worsened in the second half.
The timing is particularly notable. Thursday was Doncic’s 64th game of the season, leaving him one game short of the 65-game minimum required for postseason award eligibility. While the MVP race may be out of reach, he is a near-certainty for First Team All-NBA if he can play one more game this season.
What It Means for the Lakers
The Lakers are fighting for seeding with their two most important players now dealing with health concerns at the worst possible time.
Reaves has thrived in games without Doncic this season. With Doncic unlikely to play Sunday, his availability against Dallas becomes even more critical. The MRI results on Friday will paint a clearer picture of what the Lakers are dealing with heading into the final stretch.
Thursday was a gut punch in every sense. The Thunder dominated from the opening tip and led by 45 heading into the fourth quarter. Both teams’ starters were pulled well before the final buzzer.
The only silver lining is that Reaves feels decent. Right now, that counts for something.
Final Word for the Lakers
Two stars. Two injuries. One brutal night in Oklahoma City.
Reaves is cautiously optimistic. Doncic’s MRI results on Friday will tell the real story. The Lakers cannot afford to lose both heading into the playoffs.
The answers are coming. They better be good ones.
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