HOUSTON — Lakers star guard Austin Reaves was downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday’s Game 4 against the Rockets at Toyota Center.
Reaves has been sidelined since suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain, an injury that typically comes with a four- to six-week recovery timeline.
The fifth-year guard, along with fellow star guard Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain), suffered the regular-season-ending injuries during the April 2 loss to the Thunder.
He and Doncic missed the final five games of the regular season with their respective injuries.
Reaves was listed as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 before being downgraded to out.
“Austin and I had a conversation yesterday for a long time, and I think ultimately the athlete has to feel confidence,” Coach JJ Redick said on Sunday. “And that’s always the final hurdle coming back from an injury, is the psychological component of it.”
Doncic also was ruled out of Game 4.
He averaged a career-high 23.3 points to go with 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in a career-low 51 regular-season games after also missing significant time in December and January because of a calf strain.
Reaves has a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 that he’s expected to decline, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason with the expectation of a significant pay raise.
The Lakers entered Sunday up 3-0 in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Rockets.
