Mavs Deny Incorrect MRI Claim on Lakers' Reaves Injury

Dallas medical staff says they followed standard protocols in scanning Austin Reaves' oblique strain.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:46pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp planes of color representing the Lakers and Mavericks uniforms, conceptually illustrating the dispute over the diagnosis of Austin Reaves' injury.The dispute over the handling of Austin Reaves' injury exposes the high-stakes tensions between rival NBA teams and their medical staffs.Oklahoma City Today

The Dallas Mavericks have refuted Lakers coach JJ Redick's claim that their medical staff initially performed an MRI on the wrong part of Austin Reaves' body, leading to a delayed diagnosis of his oblique injury. The Mavericks stated their medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the information provided at the time, denying any error in the scan.

Why it matters

This dispute over the handling of Reaves' injury highlights the high stakes and scrutiny around player health assessments, especially between rival teams. Accurate and timely diagnoses are crucial for teams managing injuries during the playoff push.

The details

Reaves, the Lakers' second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, sustained a Grade 2 left oblique strain in the Lakers' April 2 loss at Oklahoma City. He underwent an MRI with the Mavericks' medical staff over the weekend, but Redick claimed they scanned the wrong area, leading to a delayed diagnosis and a longer expected recovery time of 4-6 weeks.

  • Reaves suffered the oblique injury on April 2.
  • Reaves underwent the initial MRI with the Mavericks' staff over the weekend.
  • The Lakers announced on Saturday that Reaves will miss at least the remainder of the regular season.

The players

Austin Reaves

The Lakers' second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, who sustained a Grade 2 left oblique strain.

JJ Redick

The Lakers' head coach, who claimed the Mavericks' medical staff scanned the wrong area during Reaves' MRI.

Dallas Mavericks

The NBA team that performed the initial MRI on Reaves' injury, which they have denied was done incorrectly.

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What they’re saying

“'Our medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the information provided at the time. There was no error in the scan performed.'”

— Dallas Mavericks

“'I don't know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area. So (the mistake was) not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned, but they scanned the wrong area.'”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

What’s next

The Lakers (50-28) are also without league-leading scorer Luka Doncic (33.5 ppg) for the remainder of the regular season due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and third-leading scorer (and 22-time All-Star) LeBron James (20.8 ppg) is sidelined for Tuesday's game vs. Oklahoma City due to management of his lingering left foot injury.

The takeaway

This dispute over the handling of Reaves' injury highlights the high stakes and scrutiny around player health assessments, especially between rival teams. Accurate and timely diagnoses are crucial for teams managing injuries during the playoff push, and this incident raises questions about communication and protocols between medical staffs.