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Austin Reaves injury scare prompts Luka Doncic to tell him to rest during preseason clash

Originally posted on HITC | By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Oct 13, 2025 8:31 AM ET

Luka Doncic had some immediate instructions for Austin Reaves after he got injured against the Golden State Warriors.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have reason to be concerned. Austin Reaves appeared to pick up an injury during their third preseason game against the Golden State Warriors.

Before that, Reaves was having a strong game, scoring 21 points in 22 minutes while shooting an impressive 70% from the field.

But a collision with Brandin Podziemski on defense led to an injury scare. Reaves hurt his right knee and ankle, and may have taken a knock to his left ankle as well.

During the break after picking up his knock, while sitting on the bench, Luka Doncic spoke with him briefly. Though what he said wasn’t picked up by cameras, there’s now been an update from NBA Central:

With more time off after what happened during preseason game three, there is always a chance that this could become a long-term issue.

Luka Doncic urges Austin Reaves to sit out after injury scare

Austin Reaves picked up a tough knock during the Lakers’ preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

While sitting on the bench nursing his leg, Luka Doncic stepped in with a clear message to Reaves: “Alright, that’s enough.”

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

The Lakers soon made it official, ruling him out for the rest of the game. He was taken to the back for ice and further evaluation.

An offseason injury to Reaves would be a significant blow, adding to growing concerns already facing the Lakers ahead of opening night.

Austin Reaves injury adds to LA Lakers’ growing list of concerns

If Austin Reaves’ injury is anything more than minor, he’ll join LeBron James on the sidelines. James has already been ruled out for a while.

Luka Doncic has acknowledged that without LeBron, the Lakers are going to have to raise their game across the board to fill that gap.

With Reaves potentially added to that list, things could get even tougher for LA. The team can only hope it’s nothing more than a knock, but either way, it wouldn’t hurt to keep him out until the regular season starts.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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