JJ Redick throws cold water on recent Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injury updates

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their opening round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, and if they want to win this series they’re likely going to have to do so short-handed. Despite a recent report suggesting that Austin Reaves in particular was inching closer to a return from injury, Lakers head coach JJ Redick pumped the brakes on either Reaves or Luka Doncic returning anytime soon.

Prior to Game 2 against the Rockets, JJ Redick emphasized that while Austin Reaves was progressing in terms of what kind of on court work he is able to do, and Luka Doncic as well, it’s incredibly too early to give any definitive update as far when they could potentially return from injury.

“No update on the timeline for those guys,” Redick said. “Austin has started a return to play, but we don’t have any timeline update for him. And then Luka, I think he’s gonna start some court work here soon. But again, no update on the timeline for him.”

Doncic and Reaves both sustained their injuries during the Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder back on April 2. Doncic has a hamstring strain while Reaves suffered an oblique injury. The Lakers went 3-2 to close out the regular season without either player.

Doncic was in the running for MVP this season, but was not one of the finalists recently released by the NBA. He appeared in 64 games at a little over 35 minutes per game. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals with splits of 47.6 percent shooting from the field, 36.6 percent shooting from the field and 78 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Reaves had been in contention for his first All-Star selection, but an early season groin injury derailed his case.  He appeared in 51 games at a little over 34 minutes per game. He averaged a career-high 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.1 steals with splits of 49 percent shooting from the field, 36 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 87.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The further the Lakers advance in the playoffs, the higher the chance that either Doncic or Reaves, or both, are able to return. But for the foreseeable future, Lakers fans probably shouldn’t get their hopes up regarding either one of the team’s star guards being back in the lineup anytime soon.

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