Austin Reaves Is Back in Brooklyn and the Lakers Are Finally Seeing Themselves Again
The Los Angeles Lakers step onto the floor in Brooklyn tonight with something they have not had in weeks and that is clarity. Austin Reaves is back. And for this Lakers team, that return means far more than one player coming off the bench.
Reaves makes his long-awaited comeback against the Nets after a calf strain sidelined him since Christmas. Nearly a month and a half on the sideline. Nearly twenty games without one of the Lakers’ most reliable two-way guards. His absence has hovered over every lineup decision, every close loss and every unanswered question about what this team really is.
This is not just a rotation piece returning. Reaves has been a central connector for this roster. A steady scorer. A secondary playmaker. A trusted option late in games. Before the injury, he was producing at an All-Star level, filling the stat sheet while doing the subtle work that often goes unnoticed. The Lakers have felt that loss in spacing, in ball movement and in defensive effort on the perimeter.
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Head coach JJ Redick has made it clear Reaves will come off the bench and play limited minutes. That tells you this is a careful return, not a rush. The goal is not one night in Brooklyn. The goal is March, April and beyond. Still, even restricted minutes change the geometry of this team. Suddenly, defenses have to account for another creator. Suddenly, rotations make more sense.
LeBron James has been open about the challenge. Evaluating a team without one of its core pieces is nearly impossible. The Lakers have rarely had their full group available this season and that has stalled chemistry and consistency. When Reaves went down again on Christmas Day, just as he was finding rhythm, momentum disappeared with him.
This matchup with the Nets is not just another regular season game. It is a measuring stick. Can the Lakers begin to stabilize? Can they start answering the question of who they are when healthy? Reaves’ return brings the roster closer to full strength and brings urgency to the weeks ahead.
There is also a psychological lift. Players talk about it all the time. Seeing a teammate return after a long rehab boosts belief. It signals that the grind has a purpose. For a team still searching for identity, belief matters.
The Lakers are running out of time to experiment. Every game now carries weight in a crowded playoff picture. Austin Reaves being back does not solve everything. But it allows this team to finally judge itself honestly.
Stay with us as the Lakers take the floor in Brooklyn and as this story continues to unfold. We will keep you informed with every development, every shift and every answer this team finds along the way.
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