Lakers make Austin Reaves decision after injury scare, get good news on Luka Doncic

The Lakers will chase their eighth straight win without Austin Reaves. Luka Doncic, however, is cleared to go.

Reaves has been ruled out for Sunday’s visit to the Suns after injuring his heel in Wednesday’s win over the Bucks, according to Ryan Ward of Lakers on SI. Doncic will be available after turning his ankle in the same game.

The decision follows coach JJ Redick’s announcement Friday that Reaves was day-to-day and that the Lakers had opted against additional imaging based on his physical evaluation and how he was feeling.

Missing Reaves takes a considerable amount of offense out of the lineup. He’s averaging 24.7 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field, giving Doncic a dependable second scorer during the Lakers’ 11-2 start.

Doncic’s availability helps, but the Lakers have other lineup questions. Collin Sexton, Adou Thiero and Bronny James Jr. are questionable, while rookie Cameron Carr is out with an illness.

As previously covered by Hoops Wire, the Lakers lead the NBA in five statistical categories, including scoring and offensive rating. Keeping that offense rolling without Reaves will require more from the players around Doncic.

The Suns enter at 5-6 with two straight wins. After Sunday, the Lakers return home for four games against the Hornets, Jazz twice and Kings before Thanksgiving.

That gives them a stretch at home while Reaves works toward returning. First comes Phoenix, where their winning streak gets a test without one of the players most responsible for it.

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