Austin Reaves is on the verge of returning to the Los Angeles Lakers as they prepare to face the Charlotte Hornets on Monday evening. After missing the last three games due to a right groin strain, the Lakers upgraded Reaves’ status to questionable in their Sunday injury report. He suffered the injury during the first quarter of a game against the Miami Heat on November 2, 2023.
Before his injury, Reaves had been a standout player for the Lakers, averaging 31.1 points on 48.9% shooting, along with 9.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds in the opening seven games of the season. Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick confirmed on Saturday that an MRI indicated a “mild” groin strain, and he expressed optimism about Reaves returning during the team’s current five-game road trip.
Lakers Look to Recover from Recent Loss
The Lakers are eager to bounce back after suffering a 122-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. This defeat marked their third loss of the season, dropping their record to 7-3. The Hawks were notably missing key players, including Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis, which made the loss particularly disappointing for the Lakers.
In the wake of the defeat, players like Jake LaRavia emphasized the need to learn from the experience. “You just got to learn from it and move on,” he stated. “This game was an outlier of the first 10 games that we’ve played.” The Lakers plan to review game footage to address their defensive shortcomings and improve their performance moving forward.
Redick pointed out that the Lakers struggled with off-ball defense, which allowed Atlanta to exploit gaps for easy scoring opportunities. The team also faced challenges in getting back on defense, exacerbated by committing 20 turnovers. These issues contributed to the Hawks’ strong perimeter shooting and transition play.
“They killed us in transition, and they played amazing defensively,” said center Deandre Ayton. “We weren’t ready for it.”
Upcoming Game Against the Hornets
As they prepare for the Hornets, the Lakers will also benefit from the absence of Charlotte’s star guard LaMelo Ball, who is sidelined for the fourth consecutive game due to a right ankle impingement. The matchup will take place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte at 4 p.m. PT.
With Reaves potentially back on the court, the Lakers hope to regain momentum and improve their standing in the league. The team’s ability to adapt and learn from their recent setbacks will be crucial as they navigate the demanding road ahead.
