Austin Reaves is making significant strides in his recovery, as he works toward rejoining the Los Angeles Lakers' lineup. The 25-year-old guard, who has been sidelined due to a Grade 2 oblique strain suffered on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been cleared for the next phase of his rehab process. This marks an important step in his recovery journey.

Reaves' injury occurred in the same game where Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić sustained a hamstring injury. While Dončić remains out and has no set timeline for his return, it appears that Reaves' recovery is progressing faster. According to ESPN, the Lakers' forward is on track to potentially return if the best-of-seven playoff series against the Houston Rockets extends beyond five games.

Currently, the Lakers lead the series 2-0, with Game 3 scheduled for later this week. Thanks to several days off between games, Game 5 is set for April 29, followed by Game 6 on May 1 and Game 7 on May 3. These dates would mark more than a month since Reaves' initial injury, giving him a solid opportunity for recovery.

During the regular season, Reaves was a key contributor for the Lakers, finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer with a career-high 23.3 points per game, along with 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

While Reaves' timeline to return could range within four weeks, Dončić’s recovery is expected to take a bit longer, with a more extended six-week timeline in play.

In the coming days, Reaves will begin a more intense stage of his rehab, which includes half-court 3-on-3 sessions and full-court 5-on-5 scrimmages.

With his return on the horizon, the Lakers are hoping to get their star back in action soon.

—Field Level Media/Reuters