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JJ Redick addresses Austin Reaves' injury (0:25)
Lakers coach JJ Redick provides a brief update on the injury that kept Austin Reaves out of the second half on Christmas Day. (0:25)
Dave McMenaminDec 25, 2025, 10:03 PM ET
- Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
- Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
LOS ANGELES -- Lakers guard Austin Reaves was ruled out at halftime of L.A.'s Christmas Day 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets because of a sore left calf, the team announced.
Reaves left Crypto.com Arena without a brace on his left leg. He is scheduled for an MRI on Friday, a source told ESPN.
"Austin clearly felt something," Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. "We did our normal halftime and then as we were walking out of the locker room, [Lakers director of player performance and health] Dr. [LeRoy] Sims told me he was out."
Reaves had recently missed three games with what the Lakers termed a mild left calf strain, but had returned from the injury Tuesday and scored 17 points in 22 minutes off the bench against the Phoenix Suns.
He started against Houston, though Redick said Reaves would remain on a minutes restriction.
Reaves scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in 15 minutes in the first half against the Rockets. Marcus Smart started the third quarter in Reaves' place.
Lakers star Luka Doncic, who had been sidelined with a calf strain for more than a month when L.A. acquired him in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February, urged Reaves to be cautious with his recovery.
"I know how it is to go through a calf injury," Doncic said. "It's not fun at all. [I will] just be there to support him. Take your time. Calves are dangerous, so take your time."
The calf issue has interrupted what had been a breakout season for the fifth-year guard who originally signed with the Lakers as a free agent in 2021 after going undrafted. Reaves came into Thursday averaging a career-best 27.3 points per game on 50.4% shooting, while also posting career-high averages in assists (6.5) and rebounds (5.4) per game.
Earlier this week, Redick stumped for Reaves to be named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
"Him and I have had discussions just about how surreal it is for him to be playing at this level and in this position," Redick said. "I obviously absolutely think he should be an All-Star this year."
