UPDATE: Austin Reaves is poised to make his return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup today as they face the Charlotte Hornets at 4 p.m. PT at the Spectrum Center. After missing over a week with a right groin strain, Reaves has been upgraded to questionable on the team’s injury report, raising hopes for a comeback.
Reaves, who has been a key player for the Lakers, averaged 31.1 points on 48.9% shooting, along with 9.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds in the first seven games of the season. His absence was felt during the Lakers’ recent 122-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, which marked their third defeat of the season, dropping them to 7-3.
Head coach JJ Redick confirmed that Reaves had undergone an MRI, revealing a “mild” strain, with low pain levels reported by the player. Redick emphasized that Reaves could return during the ongoing five-game road trip, and today’s game against the Hornets could be the moment fans have been eagerly awaiting.
The Lakers are looking to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing performance. The Hawks, missing four key players, took advantage of the Lakers’ lack of defensive coordination, leading to multiple scoring opportunities. Players expressed their frustration with the loss, acknowledging the need for improvement.
“You just got to learn from it and move on,” said Lakers player Jake LaRavia. “This game was an outlier of the first 10 games that we’ve played.”
As the Lakers focus on rectifying their mistakes, they will also be facing a Hornets team that will be without star guard LaMelo Ball for the fourth consecutive game due to a right ankle impingement. This matchup presents a crucial opportunity for the Lakers to regain momentum and solidify their standing in the Western Conference.
Fans are urged to tune in to Spectrum SportsNet or 710 AM to catch the action live. With Reaves possibly returning, the Lakers are gearing up for an intense showdown against the Hornets. Stay tuned for real-time updates as this story develops.
