The Los Angeles Lakers proceed their playoff sequence in opposition to the Houston Rockets with the newest damage updates on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves coming into focus following Recreation 2.
Los Angeles defeated Houston 101-94 in Game 2 at Crypto.com Enviornment, extending its sequence result in 2-0 regardless of persevering with to play with out each key rotation gamers.
Doncic stays out indefinitely with a hamstring damage. The Lakers haven’t offered a return timetable for him throughout the sequence.
Reaves can be nonetheless working via restoration from a rib damage, together with his standing tied to a multi-week rehabilitation timeline.
Earlier than Recreation 2, Shams Charania reported on ESPN’s NBA At present that Reaves had begun on-court one-on-one work. He additionally famous that the following part of restoration contains three-on-three and finally five-on-five exercise.
Charania added that Reaves’ preliminary four-to-six-week timetable positioned him on monitor for a doable late-series or early-next-series return window, relying on development.
In the meantime, Doncic’s state of affairs is extra difficult. “The Lakers aren’t anticipating Luka Doncic to be again on this sequence. He’s out indefinitely,” Charania mentioned.
That report was made previous to Recreation 2, the place each Doncic and Reaves remained unavailable because the Lakers secured one other win over Houston.
LeBron James led the Lakers in Recreation 2 with 28 factors, 8 rebounds, and seven assists, managing late-game possessions to keep up management in an in depth fourth quarter.
Marcus Sensible and Luke Kennard offered key scoring help, combining for 48 factors because the Lakers once more leaned on depth manufacturing.
Doncic’s absence continues to take away a main playmaking and scoring engine, whereas Reaves’ absence has restricted secondary creation and perimeter spacing choices.
The Lakers will monitor Reaves’ development via on-court contact phases, which can decide whether or not he can return later within the sequence.
