Lakers Get Massive Injury Update on Austin Reaves Before Game 3 vs Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers are riding high after back-to-back wins at home to open the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets, and help might be on the way.

The shorthanded Lakers were heavy underdogs following the news that their two top scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, were expected to miss a majority or all of the first round series against the Rockets.

LeBron James, alongside unsung heroes like Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard, battled in the first two games to gain the advantage for L.A., and now it appears as if one of their top scorers might be back for game three on Friday in Houston.

Austin Reaves has officially been upgraded to questionable for tomorrow’s game three, and barring any setbacks in shootaround, the guard is expected to make his return to the court for the first time in nearly a month due to an oblique strain.

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Both Reaves and Doncic were ruled out for 4-6 weeks with their injuries, but after a quick rehab, it looks as if Reaves could be ready to go tomorrow night to give the Lakers some help on the backend.

While he might not be at 100%, the inclusion of Reaves gives the team another facilitator who can control the tempo when James needs to sit.

For Doncic, reports still show that it would be a long shot for him to return for the Houston series, with it more likely he’d be ready for a second-round series.

If the Lakers do get past the Rockets, they are projected to face the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western semifinals.

The last match against the Thunder in early April was when both Reaves and Doncic got injured, as the Lakers were blown out by nearly 40 points on the road.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 5:04 PM.