Lakers say Austin Reaves has Grade 2 calf strain and will miss about four weeks

Los Angeles Lakers defender Austin Reaves volition miss clip aft an MRI connected Friday revealed a Grade 2 strain successful his near gastrocnemius, the squad announced. Austin, 27, is expected to beryllium sidelined for astir 4 weeks earlier helium is reevaluated, a agelong that cuts into a engaged portion of the Lakers’ schedule.

A gastrocnemius strain, commonly called a pulled calf muscle, involves tears successful the fibers of the main calf musculus and tin hap during regular hoops actions specified arsenic sprinting, jumping, oregon cutting to alteration direction.

Injury setback aft a little return

Austin had precocious missed 3 games with a mild strain successful the aforesaid leg, a abstracted contented from the wounded helium suffered connected Christmas Day successful the archetypal fractional of Los Angeles’ 119-96 nonaccomplishment to the Houston Rockets, sources told ESPN. He returned Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns and scored 17 points successful 22 minutes disconnected the bench.

He started against Houston, though Lakers manager JJ Redick had said Austin would stay connected a minutes restriction. Reaves scored 12 points connected 5-for-8 shooting successful 15 first-half minutes earlier helium near the game. Marcus Smart opened the 3rd 4th successful his place.

A pugnacious timing for Reaves and the Lakers

The setback lands arsenic Reaves is putting unneurotic what had been a vocation season, posting idiosyncratic bests successful points (26.6), assists (6.3) and rebounds (5.2). The surge had enactment him successful the speech for a archetypal All-Star appearance.

Los Angeles is besides searching for answers. The Lakers person dropped 3 consecutive and six of their past 10, prompting crisp vexation aft the Houston loss, including the header quote: ‘We don't attraction enough’.

"We don't attraction capable close now," Redick said. "And that's the portion that bothers you a lot. We don't attraction capable to bash the things that are necessary. We don't attraction capable to beryllium a professional. Saturday's signifier -- I told the guys -- it's going to beryllium uncomfortable," Redick added. "The gathering is going to beryllium uncomfortable. I'm not doing different 53 games similar this."

At 19-10, the Lakers beryllium 4th successful the West, nevertheless they person 15 games betwixt present and Jan. 26, the projected model Reaves could miss. That tally includes matchups listed against teams specified arsenic the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.