Luka Doncic Reacts to Austin Reaves Injury as JJ Redick Addresses Lakers’ Multiple Health Issues

This past April, the Lakers lost both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the rest of the regular season within a day of each other, a Grade 2 hamstring strain for one and a Grade 2 oblique strain for the other. On Wednesday night in Milwaukee, the Lakers saw those fears return. Reaves left with a heel injury, Doncic turned his ankle, and Collin Sexton needed stitches, all in a 123-112 win over the Bucks.

Doncic spoke carefully about Reaves' injury afterward.

"I think we just got to have next-man-up mentality," Doncic said. "Obviously, we lose a very, very good player. Hopefully it's not, it's nothing. We got to have next-man-up mentality."

Reaves went down late in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a transition dunk attempt. The Lakers announced that he would not return with a left heel injury. According to JJ Redick, the initial X-ray came back negative, but Reaves will undergo more imaging on Thursday, so the team does not yet know how serious it is.

Redick gave the full picture after the game. Doncic hurt his right ankle late in the fourth quarter on a closeout near the three-point line, an injury Redick called a “light tweak.” Sexton, who bumped heads with Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins with 6:51 left, is getting stitches above his right eye.

The injuries didn’t derail the win. The Lakers extended their winning streak to seven games and improved to an NBA-best 11-2. Doncic entered the night leading the league at 39.3 points per game, so his ankle drew immediate concern.

Redick was asked whether the Lakers would change anything after three injuries in a single half. His answer was simple.

"We have a process for everything. It doesn't change anything," he said. "You stick with your process. A guy could get hurt on the first play of the game. I don't second guess. You stick with your process. You agree on your process, and you go do your process."

Redick’s and Doncic’s responses both point to control: the team is not changing how it plays because of a bad break, and it expects its depth to handle the load. The Lakers have shown that approach can work, as they have only two losses despite several key absences over the past few weeks.

Reaves is far more than a role player. He is the Lakers’ second-leading scorer behind Doncic, so his absence would raise the burden on Doncic and the backups. Sexton and Ziaire Williams will matter more if Reaves is out for any extended stretch.

Reaves has also dealt with health setbacks over the past year. He missed 19 games last season after straining his left calf on Christmas, and the Grade 2 oblique strain then ended his regular season in April. That history makes a new injury more frustrating for a player the Lakers need in the second-star role.

Doncic’s ankle is the smaller concern, but it still carries weight. He is the league’s leading scorer and the main reason the Lakers sit atop the NBA standings, so even a light tweak receives attention.

For now, the Lakers have a simple task. They wait for Thursday's imaging, evaluate Doncic's ankle and rely on their depth. If the news is good, the night will be remembered as a win with a few scares. If not, Redick's process and Doncic's mentality will be tested early in a season that has gone well so far.