NBA: Lakers Austin Reaves reportedly headed for MRI

Lakers' Austin Reaves exited Thursday's game vs. Rockets with left calf soreness and is set for an MRI, raising concerns after a recent calf injury. He had 12 points in 15 first-half minutes before leaving the game.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA/Reuters

December 26, 2025

Lakers’ Austin Reaves exits vs. Rockets with left calf soreness, set for MRI after scoring 12 in first half

Reuters

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves exited Thursday night’s game against the visiting Houston Rockets due to soreness in his left calf and is scheduled for an MRI on Friday, according to reports from The Athletic and ESPN.

Reaves, the Lakers’ second-leading scorer this season behind Luka Doncic, contributed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 15 minutes during the first half. He missed a 3-point attempt at the first-half buzzer and did not return to the court after intermission.

The Lakers trailed 63-53 at halftime and fell further behind in the third quarter, ultimately losing 119-96 to the Rockets.

Through 23 games (22 starts) in his fifth NBA season—all with Los Angeles—Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. He previously missed three games earlier this month due to a strain in the same calf and was in only his second game back.

—Field Level Media/Reuters