Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss at least four weeks with a Grade 2 left calf strain, the team announced Thursday night.
Reaves, who has a career-high average of 26.6 points per game, did not play during the second half of Los Angeles’ 119-96 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
The fifth-year guard underwent an MRI that revealed a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain. The Lakers say Reaves’ injury will be re-evaluated in four weeks, a lengthy stretch that figures to test the team that currently holds fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
When Reaves sat out three games two weeks ago due to a strain of the same calf, the Lakers edged the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz before dropping a 15-point decision to the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 20.
Reaves reinjured his calf in his second game since his return. He takes a seat while averaging 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds and shooting 50.7% from the field, 36.5% on 3-point attempts and 87.3% at the foul line.
Marcus Smart jumped into the Lakers’ starting lineup during Reaves’ recent absence and contributed 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 30% from the field in those three contests.
