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Austin Reaves Returns for Lakers With 15 Points in Limited Minutes in Win Over Nets

The guard came off the bench on a strict minutes plan following a 19-game layoff to carefully manage a Grade 2 calf strain.

Overview

  • Coach JJ Redick said pregame that Reaves would return in a bench role with a minutes restriction for his first appearance since Christmas Day.
  • Los Angeles had listed Reaves as day-to-day across the trip before upgrading him to available for Brooklyn after multiple questionable designations.
  • The Lakers closed their eight-game road swing with a 125-109 victory over the Nets, and Redick said they had missed Reaves “in every facet.”
  • Before the injury, Reaves was delivering a career-best season at 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game on efficient shooting.
  • Reaves, 27, holds a 2026-27 player option near $14.9 million that he could decline to reach free agency, adding long-term interest to his ramp-up.