The Los Angeles Lakers are going through their first rough stretch of the season.. If they want to get out of this, they'll probably have to do it without Austin Reeves.
Reeves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left calf strain (the calf muscle is a muscle in the lower leg) and will be ruled out until re-evaluated in four weeks. The Lakers announced Friday, via Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
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The announcement came two weeks after Reeves suffered a minor left calf strain for the first time.causing him to miss three games. He was thought ready to return last week, but left Thursday's game against the Houston Rockets with another calf injury and will now be out at least a month.
This is an untimely injury for the Lakers. The team has lost three games in a row, losing six of its last ten games, and is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference. Thursday's loss was so lopsided that the Rockets led by double digits the entire second half. Then, after the game, Head coach JJ Redick blasted the lineup and promised some players an “uncomfortable” Saturday practice..
Austin Reeves became the Lakers' third star. (Photo by Jevon Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Sportswire icon via Getty Images)
Reaves probably wasn't one of the players Redick had problems with. He's been one of the NBA's standout players this season, averaging career averages across the board and serving as an effective complement to stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
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If Reeves is able to return exactly four weeks from Friday, he will miss 14 games. The NBA trade deadline comes shortly after Feb. 5, which is important given the trade speculation surrounding it.
