{"id":80852,"date":"2026-01-21T02:18:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T05:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/jj-redick-drops-major-austin-reaves-injury-update-as-lakers-finally-catch-a-break\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T02:19:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T05:19:02","slug":"jj-redick-drops-major-austin-reaves-injury-update-as-lakers-finally-catch-a-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/jj-redick-drops-major-austin-reaves-injury-update-as-lakers-finally-catch-a-break\/","title":{"rendered":"JJ Redick Drops Major Austin Reaves Injury Update as Lakers Finally Catch a Break"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Good news has been in short supply for the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries have piled up over the course of January, their defense continues to struggle, and, with Austin Reaves sitting due to a calf injury, their offense, which kept them afloat early in the season, continues to falter. Now, head coach JJ Redick has issued an update on Reaves\u2019 status.<\/p>\n

According to insider Dave McMenamin, Redick told reporters that Reaves is \u201cprogressing well,\u201d and hopes to return to the lineup at some point during the Lakers\u2019 upcoming eight-game road trip. This is a huge relief for the team, which has sorely missed his presence since his injury.<\/p>\n

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Reaves has been one of the most reliable offensive creators on the team, and was consistently relieving pressure during late possessions, or even leading the offense when stars Luka Doncic<\/a> and LeBron James sat. With him, teammates didn\u2019t have to live off tough shots or fight through traps, and in his absence, that burden has shifted unevenly, putting strain on the core pieces.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The road trip during which Reaves returns starts today, when the Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in Ball Arena, and extends until 3rd February, when the team faces off against the Brooklyn Nets before returning to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Reaves last played on Christmas, when he reaggravated a calf injury that had previously caused him to miss three games. Since then, he has missed 12 games, over the course of which the team has gone 6-6, a big departure from the 15-8 record the team has when Reaves plays.<\/p>\n

Though the guard isn\u2019t back today, it shouldn\u2019t take much longer for him to be back. Once he is, expect him to play off the bench for the first few games as he plays his way back into shape, similar to when he first returned from the calf injury in December for the Lakers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves\u2019 Return is Not a Cure-All, But a Crucial Step Forward for Lakers<\/h2>\n

Austin Reaves is hugely important to the Lakers\u2019 plans. The guard has taken a massive leap this season, averaging career highs across the board; 26.6 points per game on solid shooting, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and is going to look to keep up that production when he returns.<\/p>\n

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