US EditionLuka Doncic, Austin Reaves Still Out Indefinitely with Injuries as Lakers Prepare for Playoffs
Los Angeles will be without its top two scorers, leaving LeBron James to lead a roster built around rebounding and ball security.
- On Tuesday, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed that Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will miss the first-round playoff series opener against the Houston Rockets, stating both players remain "out indefinitely" while recovering from Grade 2 strains.
- Doncic and Reaves suffered their respective Grade 2 hamstring and oblique strains during an April 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Doncic traveling to Spain for treatment on his injury.
- Facing a Houston squad that leads the NBA in total rebounds per game at 48.1, Redick prioritized box-out drills during Tuesday's practice, emphasizing that "taking care of the basketball and boxing out, that's the series."
- With the star backcourt unavailable, the Lakers will rely on LeBron James while welcoming back guard Marcus Smart and backup center Jaxson Hayes, who plans to focus on rebounding against Houston's interior.
- The Lakers host the Rockets for Game 1 of their first-round series this Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, as the team prepares to face Houston's aggressive defensive pressure without its top two scorers.
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27 Articles
JJ Redick Reveals Lakers' 2-Step Plan to Upset Rockets in Playoffs
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out indefinitely, the Los Angeles Lakers can’t out-talent the Houston Rockets in their first-round playoff series.But Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes his team can stay in games if it remains disciplined in two specific areas for 48 minutes: boxing out and limiting turnovers.“Take care of the ball and box out,” Redick said, via The Athletic’s Dan Woike, of the two keys to the Lakers upsetting the Rockets in…
The Lakers will start the first game of the playoffs against Houston without two key players – Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
No update on Doncic as Lakers prep for Rockets
After putting his team through its first practice in preparation for the playoffs, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said Tuesday he doesn't have any more information about when Luka Doncic could return, only saying that the star is "out indefinitely."
JJ Redick provides Doncic and Reaves injury updates ahead of playoffs; Lakers focus on rebounding vs. Rockets
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves remain out "indefinitely" with their respective Grade 2 strains, Redick said, while the Lakers focused on boxing-out as they prepare for the NBA's best offensive rebounding team in playoffs.
Associated Press News
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves still out indefinitely with injuries as Lakers prepare for playoffs
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will not return from injury in time to begin the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
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