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Lakers’ Austin Reaves nearing return after 5-week injury absence

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 6:13 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are approaching the NBA trade deadline in search of some more pieces to bolster the roster.

However, the Lakers are very close to getting starting guard Austin Reaves back on the floor. Reaves has missed five weeks since suffering a calf strain on Christmas Day , but he was upgraded to questionable ahead of Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards.

Luka Doncic, who took a hard fall in Wednesday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, is also listed as questionable on the injury report.

Austin Reaves has been upgraded to questionable for Washington on Friday and Luka is questionable too from the Cleveland court incident pic.twitter.com/Erd55UbKTZ
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 29, 2026

Reaves was on a roll before suffering the injury. This year, the Lakers guard is averaging 26.6 points per game with 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds, so he was an important part of the team before the Christmas Day setback.

In Reaves’ absence, head coach JJ Redick has used Marcus Smart in the starting five, so it will be interesting to see what Redick does with the lineup once Reaves returns.

Reaves’ final status should get an update before the game on Friday. If he isn’t able to go just yet, the Lakers next face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 1, which is the first anniversary of the stunning Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis blockbuster trade.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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