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Austin Reaves Game-Time Decision as Lakers Aim for Series Win

4/29/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Reaves Game-Time Decision

Austin Reaves is a game-time decision for Game 5 of the Lakers-Rockets series on April 29.
He has missed every game since April 2 after a Grade 2 left oblique strain expected to sideline him four to six weeks.
Lakers lead the series 3-1 and need the win to avoid a second-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams Charania says Reaves is trending right and could play 18-20 minutes if cleared.

Summary

Lakers Must Win

Lakers must win Game 5 to face No. 1-seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western semifinals.
Oklahoma City entered the playoffs with the league’s best record and seeks back-to-back titles.
With Reaves and Doncic out, bench players Luke Kennard (27 points in Game 1) and Marcus Smart have led scoring.
No NBA team has ever overcome a 0-3 deficit, highlighting the stakes of Game 5.

History

Historical Context

In 2016 the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to overturn a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit, defeating the Golden State Warriors and ending Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought. By contrast, no franchise has ever rallied from a 0-3 playoff hole, a reality the 2024 Los Angeles Lakers now face against the Houston Rockets, underscoring the rarity of such comebacks.

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Reaves Game-Time Decision

Austin Reaves is a game-time decision for Game 5 of the Lakers-Rockets series on April 29.
He has missed every game since April 2 after a Grade 2 left oblique strain expected to sideline him four to six weeks.
Lakers lead the series 3-1 and need the win to avoid a second-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams Charania says Reaves is trending right and could play 18-20 minutes if cleared.

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