NBA Legend Steve Nash Questions Austin Reaves' Impact on Lakers-Thunder Series

Former back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash is not sure if Austin Reaves’ return from injury is enough to lift the Los Angeles Lakers against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Reaves suffered a Grade 2 left oblique strain during the tail end of the regular season. He was sidelined for a month, missing the final five games of the regular season and the first five games of L.A.’s first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

Reaves came back to help the Lakers close out the Rockets in Game 6. However, he struggled in their Game 1 loss to OKC on Tuesday, shooting 3-of-16 for eight points.

Nash is now questioning Reaves’ impact on this series. According to the eight-time All-Star, not even a healthy Reaves could be enough to influence the Lakers’ chances against the defending champions.

"I think this Austin Reaves situation, it's going to be difficult for him,” Nash said on Prime Video’s pregame show. “He's playing the best defense in the league. He's been out four, five weeks. Even if he goes 5-of-5, they still lose.

“They're 15-point [underdogs] every night. … The Lakers I thought they played well but they're just not as good as OKC."