Austin Reaves’s dedication to the Los Angeles Lakers is proving to be unwavering, as he’s set to play against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 29th despite an ankle sprain. The Lakers, currently battling for playoff positioning in the competitive Western Conference, have listed Reaves as probable for this pivotal matchup. Reaves sustained the injury during the second half of their close 119-117 loss to the Chicago Bulls but played through the pain to nearly secure a victory for his team.
Los Angeles Lakers: Austin Reaves Shares Update On Ankle Sprain
“I just want to be there for my teammates,” Reaves told reporters after the Bulls game. “It’s not the first time I rolled my ankle. Probably not the last. I just like playing. I like being in the game, being able to kind of control the game and if I sit out with it, I can’t play and I’m not able to control what I want. So I just try to forget about it and try to focus on trying to win.”
LeBron James praised Reaves’s toughness and performance, acknowledging his significant contributions to the team.
“AR he’s tough as nails,” James told reporters. “He’s great. I’m happy that he continues to make strides in his career. I’ve seen him the whole time, the whole rise so it’s been awesome.” Reaves led the Lakers with 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting, accompanied by three assists, two blocks, and a rebound.
In the final moments against the Bulls, Reaves, despite the injury, showcased his clutch ability. He faked a pass to Luka Dončić before driving to the rim, putting the Lakers ahead 117-116 with just three seconds remaining. Reaves expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by his teammates and coaches, especially with James and Dončić on the floor.
“That’s LeBron arguably the greatest player ever and Luka who’s gonna go down as one of the best players as well,” Reaves said. “I said it a million times, I’ve barely got my foot in the league and I’m just trying to take advantage of all the opportunities. They trust me in that moment. I just go try to be successful for them.”
Unfortunately, Josh Giddey of the Bulls dashed the Lakers’ hopes with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, overshadowing Reaves’s valiant effort.