Is Austin Reaves Playing Tonight?
Austin Reaves is playing tonight. He has been cleared and is listed as available for the Lakers game against the Phoenix Suns after a short spell out with a mild left calf strain.
He hurt the calf in early December and the team first called it a mild strain. Reporters said he would miss at least a week while the medical staff watched how the muscle responded. During that stretch he sat out three games while the Lakers adjusted their rotation around him.
Now the team has updated his status. Multiple reports confirm that he has been upgraded to available for the Suns game which ends the short absence. Dave McMenamin reported that he will return after three missed games and the latest injury report lists him as active.
Before the injury Reaves was having a huge season. He was putting up career high numbers in points rebounds assists with heavy minutes every night. Some outlets even mention All Star level play and say he has been one of the most steady players on the roster while stars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James deal with their own issues.
Because of that his return matters a lot for this matchup. With Luka out and other rotation pieces banged up the Lakers need Reaves to handle the ball create shots and help space the floor. Recent game previews highlight that he will be relied on heavily again especially against a Phoenix team that can score in bunches.
There is always a small chance of minute limits in the first game back from a soft tissue injury. Coaches sometimes keep players in shorter bursts so the muscle does not tighten during the game. Nothing in the reports guarantees a full workload yet they all agree he is available and expected to play.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and is based on the latest publicly available injury reports and team updates. Player availability, minutes, and game status may change close to tip-off depending on coaching decisions or medical reassessments.
