NBA: Lakers' Austin Reaves reportedly headed for MRI over calf soreness

Lakers’ Austin Reaves exits Thursday’s loss to Rockets with left calf soreness, heading for MRI after scoring 12 points in the first half. He previously missed games with the same injury and is averaging 26.6 points this season.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA/Reuters

December 26, 2025

Dec 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots against Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez

Gary A. Vasquez/Reuters

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

Reaves, the team’s second-leading scorer this season behind Luka Doncic, had 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in just 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 halftime.

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

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

—Field Level Media/Reuters