Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss the remainder of the regular season after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, the team announced.
Reaves is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, placing a potential return in the second or third round of the playoffs.
The injury occurred during Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City, when Reaves felt discomfort in his left side.
“I went back to get a rebound… and I felt something,” Reaves said.
He underwent an MRI on Saturday, though head coach JJ Redick said the initial scan did not target the correct area.
“I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” Redick said.
The news comes one day after Luka Doncic was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season with a hamstring injury, leaving Los Angeles shorthanded entering the playoffs.
Redick said the team will take an “all hands on deck” approach, with increased offensive roles expected for LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton.
“You got to flip the mindset a little bit,” James said. “Whatever is needed.”
Veteran guard Marcus Smart is day-to-day, while several G League players are expected to join the rotation as the Lakers look to hold onto their playoff position.
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