Mavs Deny Redick's Claim of Incorrect MRI on Reaves

Dallas medical staff says they followed standard protocols in scanning Lakers player's injury.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:10am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp geometric planes in the official team colors of the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, conceptually representing the challenges of managing player injuries across organizations.The dispute over the handling of Austin Reaves' injury exposes the complexities of coordinating medical care between rival NBA teams.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 performed.

Why it matters

This dispute over the handling of Reaves' injury highlights the importance of clear communication and coordination between teams when dealing with player health issues, especially in high-stakes playoff situations. It also raises questions about the reliability of medical assessments and the potential for mistakes that can impact a team's roster and performance.

The details

Reaves, the Lakers' second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, sustained a Grade 2 left oblique strain during the Lakers' April 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He underwent an MRI with the Mavericks' medical staff over the weekend, but Lakers coach JJ Redick claimed the staff scanned the wrong area, leading to a delayed diagnosis. However, the Mavericks have denied this, stating their team followed standard protocols based on the information provided.

  • Reaves sustained the oblique injury on April 2.
  • Reaves underwent an MRI with the Mavericks' medical staff over the weekend of April 8.
  • The Lakers announced on April 8 that Reaves will miss at least the remainder of the regular season, with an expected 4-6 week recovery timeline.

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.

Luka Doncic

The Mavericks' star player, who is sidelined for the remainder of the regular season due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

LeBron James

The Lakers' third-leading scorer at 20.8 points per game, who is sidelined for Tuesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to management of his lingering left foot injury.

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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, Organization

“'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 and Mavericks will continue to monitor Reaves' recovery timeline, with the Lakers hoping he can return before the end of the regular season or in time for the playoffs.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the importance of clear communication and coordination between teams when dealing with player health issues, as well as the potential for mistakes in medical assessments that can impact a team's roster and performance. It also underscores the challenges teams face in managing injuries to key players during the high-stakes playoff push.