Lakers Star Austin Reaves Faces Lengthy Injury Absence

Doctor outlines best-case return timeline of 3 weeks for Reaves' Grade 2 oblique strain, but warns of high re-injury risk.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:23pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in mid-motion, their form broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes that convey a sense of raw athletic energy and movement.The Lakers' playoff hopes take a hit as star guard Austin Reaves faces a lengthy injury absence.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has sustained a Grade 2 oblique strain and will miss several weeks, dealing another major blow to the Lakers' playoff hopes. According to a sports medicine expert, Reaves' minimum recovery time is 3 weeks, but the injury often takes closer to 5 weeks to fully heal, with a high risk of re-injury if he returns too soon. The Lakers are now likely to be without both Reaves and star Luka Doncic for the first round of the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Lakers have surged up the Western Conference standings in recent months, largely due to the standout play of Reaves and Doncic. With both players now sidelined, the Lakers' postseason outlook has dramatically shifted, as they will almost certainly be without their two best players for the start of the playoffs.

The details

Reaves, 27, suffered the oblique strain on Saturday. According to Dr. Jesse Morse, a sports medicine expert, Grade 2 oblique strains are partial muscle tears that are 'really painful' and often take 3-5 weeks to fully heal. Morse warned that these types of soft tissue injuries carry a high risk of re-injury if a player returns too soon, making it unlikely Reaves will see the court again this season.

  • Reaves suffered the injury on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • The Lakers have 5 regular season games remaining before the playoffs begin.

The players

Austin Reaves

A 27-year-old guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who was in the midst of his best NBA season before sustaining a Grade 2 oblique strain.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' other injured star, who is also dealing with a soft tissue injury and is expected to miss the start of the playoffs.

Dr. Jesse Morse

A board-certified sports and family medicine expert who provided analysis on Reaves' injury and recovery timeline.

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What they’re saying

“Grade 2 oblique strains are actually partial tears usually where the muscle attaches to the rib. Often times these are on the non-dominant side, much more common in baseball players. The oblique muscles are responsible for twisting and are a core muscle. So every time you twist your abdomen, the oblique muscles are responsible for re-centering you.”

— Dr. Jesse Morse, Sports Medicine Expert

“Similar to Doncic and his hamstring injury, these are commonly reinjured if the player returns to sport too quickly. Minimum 3 weeks for a grade 2, sometimes closer to 5 if there is any rib cartilage damage.”

— Dr. Jesse Morse, Sports Medicine Expert

What’s next

The Lakers have 5 regular season games remaining before the playoffs begin. It is highly unlikely that either Reaves or Doncic will be able to return in time for the first round of the playoffs, dealing a major blow to the team's postseason hopes.

The takeaway

This injury to Reaves, coming on the heels of Doncic's setback, represents a devastating turn of events for the Lakers, who had surged up the Western Conference standings thanks to the standout play of their two stars. With both players now sidelined, the Lakers' playoff outlook has shifted dramatically, and the team will likely have to navigate the postseason without its two best players.