Austin Reaves, a guard for the Lakers, left Friday night’s game early as the team defeated the LA Clippers 106-102 in the first quarter because of his right calf soreness and did not get back to the game. The Lakers guard will now undergo an MRI on Saturday.
The player left the game at 2:58 in the first quarter, when the team trailed 21-13. He went straight to the locker room. He ended the game with six points on 2-for-4 shooting.
The fourth-year veteran had been in excellent form, averaging 23.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in February, helping the Lakers to a 9-2 record in that stretch.
Los Angeles could not pretend not to miss their star, Rui Hachimura, who could not play because of a left knee injury he suffered in the game against the Timberwolves. The Lakers fielded Dorian Finney Smith to take charge in place of Rui Hachimura, while Reaves was replaced in the second half by Gabe Vincent.
The Los Angeles Lakers were led by Luka Doncic (31 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) and LeBron James (28 points, 13 rebounds), whose bench was outnumbered by the Clippers’ reserves 29-14.
The Lakers have had a wonderful performance lately, winning 15 out of their last 18 matches and currently positioned fourth in the Western Conference, coming behind Memphis and Denver.
