Why is Austin Reaves not Playing Tonight?
Austin Reaves is sitting out tonight due to soreness in his right groin. He played through some pain in the last game against Miami, putting up a strong 26 points and 11 assists for the Lakers. After that performance, the groin pain got worse, so the team chose to rest him to avoid making the injury serious.
The Lakers medical team decided to sit him out for this matchup against the Trail Blazers. With the team having many games close together, there’s worry that pushing through a groin injury could cause more problems for Reaves. They want him healthy for the rest of the season, so rest is the safest option right now.
Earlier in the season, Reaves hadn’t missed a game. His absence tonight is the first time he’s out because of injury since joining the starting lineup. Reports from Lakers coaches and beat writers say his groin started bothering him late in the Miami game and didn’t feel better the morning after. Trainers checked him out and decided not to let him suit up tonight.
His status is listed as day to day. Team doctors say there’s no sign of a major tear or lasting problem. He’s expected to recover quickly, and he may return for the next game if things improve. The team wants to see how his groin responds to a night of rest before deciding his availability for future games.
Reaves is a key part of the Lakers offense, especially with other stars like Luka Doncic out too. The team will need to shuffle their rotation until he’s ready to play again. For now, Reaves is missing tonight only because of groin soreness, and the update is that he’ll be back once he feels good enough to suit up again.
Disclaimer:
Austin Reaves' absence tonight is due to soreness in his right groin. The Lakers medical staff has determined that rest is necessary to avoid further strain. There is no indication of a major injury, and Reaves is expected to recover quickly. His status remains day-to-day.
