Austin Reaves shook off some rust on Tuesday night as he made his much-awaited return to action for the Los Angeles Lakers. The 27-year-old had been sidelined since injuring his left calf on Christmas Day, missing 19 games in a row for L.A.
Reaves got his first taste of action on Tuesday, helping the Lakers secure a 125-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard registered 15 points on 3-of-9 from the floor, four rebounds, one assist, two steals and one three-pointer in 21 minutes of action.
After the game, Reaves shared an update on his condition after his return from an extended absence. He also revealed his one regret during his time on the sidelines.
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Reaves came off the bench in Tuesday’s game. He started the second half, replacing Jake LaRavia in the lineup. Lakers head coach JJ Redick, however, played down the decision to start Reaves in the third. The second-year Lakers coach did not commit to starting Reaves in L.A.’s next game.
Reaves said after Tuesday’s win that he “felt good” in his return. He also admitted that he was “pretty bored” over the past month while working through his injury.
"It's just trying to do the right things every day," Reaves said. "It's frustrating. Just trusting the process of what you're doing. One day it might feel good, and the next you might not.
“Wish I was back a little sooner, but like I said, it's good to be back. It's miserable when I'm not playing. I'm pretty bored."
Reaves regrets not being able to return sooner. The former Oklahoma Sooners standout also shared that he wanted to play in L.A.’s last game — a 112-100 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday. However, he “just didn’t feel right” after warming up, leading to the decision to have him sit out one more game.
The Lakers were cautious in bringing Reaves back from the calf injury. This comes as no surprise, considering how it was an aggravated injury. He sat out three games in December before returning and eventually aggravating the calf strain. The Lakers are now taking no chances on the health of their star guard.