LOS ANGELES — Lakers guard Austin Reaves exited Friday night’s 106-102 win against the LA Clippers in the first quarter with right calf soreness and did not return.
Reaves will undergo an MRI on the calf Saturday, sources told ESPN.
The fourth-year veteran subbed out with 2:58 remaining in the first quarter with the Lakers trailing 21-13 and went straight to the locker room. He finished with six points on 2-for-4 shooting.
“He was experiencing some tightness in the calf, some soreness,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. “Was held out as a precaution.”
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Reaves had been enjoying some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 23.5 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 11 games in February entering Friday. Los Angeles went 9-2 in those games.
The Lakers were already down one starter in Rui Hachimura, who was ruled out because of a left knee strain he suffered Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Redick said Hachimura had an MRI on Friday but did not provide a timeline for the forward to return to game action.
“We’re optimistic this is not a serious injury,” Redick said. “It’s still not quite clear on when he will be available to play. But we’re optimistic.”
Dorian Finney-Smith started the Clippers game in Hachimura’s place. Gabe Vincent started the second half Friday with Reaves out.
Luka Doncic (31 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) and LeBron James (28 points, 13 rebounds) led the way Friday night, with the Lakers’ bench outscoring the Clippers’ reserves 29-14.
The Lakers have won 15 of their past 18 games to surge to No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, just a half game behind the No. 3 Memphis Grizzlies and a game back of the No. 2 Denver Nuggets.
“We’re in a good place, but we’re not comfortable at all,” James said. “We haven’t played our best game we’re capable of playing, honestly. We have a couple injuries and things of that nature that we need to attend to as well. And that’s always very important to be able to keep it going in this league to have that type of luck too. So we’ll see what happens.”
