Lakers could sit Austin Reaves to reduce risk. Why it's a bad idea.

The possible return of Lakers guard Austin Reaves raises the question of if they'd be better off holding him out for Game 5 vs. the Houston Rockets.

Lakers could sit Austin Reaves to reduce risk. Why it's a bad idea.

The possible return of Lakers guard Austin Reaves raises the question of if they'd be better off holding him out for Game 5 vs. the Houston Rockets.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was transparent about his intentions.

“I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves told reporters Tuesday, April 28 at the Lakers’ training facility.

Increasingly, it sounds like Reaves is returning to action after missing the past nine games with a strained oblique muscle.

Would the Lakers be better off sitting Reaves again when they play the Houston Rockets Wednesday, April 29 in Los Angeles? Would it make sense to remove the risk of reinjury as they take a 3-1 lead into Game 5 with a chance to close out the first-round playoff series?

Presumably. the extra rest could further heal the oblique muscle Reaves strained April 2 before missing nine straight games recovering from the injury.

Something else to keep in mind: Reaves, the Lakers’ second-leading scorer in the regular season, could help the Lakers clinch the series and kill any hope of a historic Rockets rally. (No NBA team ever won a playoff series after being down 3-0, and the Rockets avoided a sweep by winning Game 4 in Houston.)

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Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.A member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team performs during a time out during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.Cleveland Brows player Myles Garrett riles up the crowd during the first half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.A fan waves a towel during the second half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.Fans arrive to watch warmups before game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.1 / 5NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energyMoondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.1 / 5NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energyMoondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.2 / 5NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energyA member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team performs during a time out during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.3 / 5NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energyCleveland Brows player Myles Garrett riles up the crowd during the first half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.4 / 5NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energyA fan waves a towel during the second half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.5 / 5NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energyFans arrive to watch warmups before game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.But that’s missing the more important point if Reaves is ready to play, according to Mychael Thompson, who won NBA championships as a member of the Lakers in 1987 and 1988 and is a broadcaster for the Laker games.

“Needs a tuneup game before the OKC series,’’ Thompson told USA TODAY Sports of Reaves.

When they Lakers end this series, they’ll be facing the reigning champions and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. And they’ll need Reaves in as close to top form as possible. That’ll be even more true with Luka Dončić out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.

As of Wednesday, Reaves will have gone 26 days without playing in a game. It’s hard to imagine he’ll be in top form for the Oklahoma City Thunder after one game against the Rockets. Of course, the series could extend another three games. Regardless, the faster Reaves gets back into game action, the faster he’ll regain the form during which he averaged 23.3 points per game this season and a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings Oct. 26.

The Lakers will need that explosive guard to have any shot of beating the Thunder.

Concerns about the Lakers pushing Reaves back too quickly are unfounded. Before each of the past two games, Reaves was listed as questionable and ended up sitting out.

But if he’s ready, and he’s suggested he is – “I feel good,’’ he told reporters. “Trending in the right direction’’ – it’s time to get him back on the court.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should Lakers play it safe and hold out Austin Reaves vs. Rockets?

Lakers could sit Austin Reaves to reduce risk. Why it's a bad idea.

Lakers could sit Austin Reaves to reduce risk. Why it's a bad idea.