The return of Austin Reaves is not only on the horizon for the Lakers, but it is imminent. Slated to come back during the team’s eight-game road trip, Reaves’ return looks increasingly likely to come in the next week.
Prior to Saturday’s game against the Mavs, head coach JJ Redick gave the latest update on Reaves, revealing that he played in a stay-ready game and could come back as soon as Wednesday in Cleveland.
The Lakers have one game between Saturday and their match-up against the Cavs, that coming against the Bulls on Monday. For now then, that is the only game he will certainly miss moving forward.
The Lakers have desperately missed Reaves over the last month. The team has needed his ball handling and scoring. Most specifically, they’ve missed his ability to get to the rim and score.
Unfortunately, Reaves’ return won’t come soon enough for him to be eligible for any awards as he’s missed too many games to meet the 65-game minimum. However, that’s water under the bridge for a Lakers team still fighting for playoff positioning.
In his absence, they’ve slid down the standings and now are in a four-team race to avoid the No. 7 seed and a play-in spot.
Reaves’ return, then, could hardly come at a better time.
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