The Los Angeles Lakers head into Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night still without their two biggest stars, but there is genuine reason for cautious optimism. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have both been officially ruled out for Game 2, yet the mood around the Lakers facility has shifted noticeably after Dončić made his return to the practice court this week, giving the entire organization a much-needed lift.
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves: What the Official Injury Report Says
The NBA‘s official injury report lists Dončić and Reaves as unavailable for Game 2. Dončić carries a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, while Reaves is sidelined with a left oblique muscle strain. Both players have been out since April 2, when they were hurt during the Lakers’ loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City, and neither returned for the remainder of the regular season.
Reaves is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain with a recovery timetable of 4–6 weeks, and Dončić is suffering from a hamstring strain. No firm return date has been set for either player, and the Lakers have offered no new timeline heading into Tuesday night’s contest.
For a fuller breakdown of both injuries, read: Luka Dončić Injury and Austin Reaves Injury Update: When Will the Lakers’ Top Stars Return for the Playoffs?
Luka Dončić Back in the Gym — JJ Redick Speaks
The biggest development ahead of Game 2 was not on the injury report. It was on the practice court. Luka Dončić was seen putting up shots in practice as he returned to the facility for the first time since coming back from his treatment in Spain. The activity was light — free throws, rebounding, passing through shooting drills — but for a team that has been without him for nearly three weeks, just having him back in the building meant everything.
Coach JJ Redick did not hold back his enthusiasm when asked about the scene.
“It’s been really nice. He definitely rebounded and passed on some shooting drills,” Redick told reporters after Monday’s session. “Having the group together two out of the last three days has been really nice.”
The sentiment was echoed by teammates.
“I think people don’t know how much impact that Luka has — not just on the court but off the court,” said Rui Hachimura. “We love him just being around, just hanging out… We’re happy that he’s back finally. And he’s doing funny things like always.”
Dončić was not a full participant in practice on Tuesday and will still need to clear a couple of major hurdles before that becomes possible. Nevertheless, there is optimism that he will return for the Lakers at some point in these playoffs.
For more on how the Dončić injury has developed: Luka Dončić Injury: What’s the Latest Update on the Los Angeles Lakers Guard?
Austin Reaves’ Oblique: A Slower Timeline
While Dončić’s gym return has raised spirits, Austin Reaves faces a more measured path back. At the front end of his 4-to-6 week recovery window, a return in the latter stages of the Lakers’ series with Houston is possible. That scenario would require the series to stretch deep, but it’s not an unrealistic best case.
Dončić and Reaves combined to average 56.8 points, 13.8 assists, and 12.4 rebounds per game when healthy this season, and their absences have put a massive anchor on LA’s hopes of playoff advancement. Getting even one of them back changes the entire complexion of this series.
Redick’s Message: Same Desperation, Same Focus
Ahead of Game 2, Redick made it clear he is not letting his team exhale after winning Game 1.
“We know that they’re going to be the more desperate team in Game 2, and we have to play with the same sense of desperation that we had in Game 1,” said the Lakers head coach.
He also flagged exactly what he believes will decide the series:
“Taking care of the basketball and boxing out, that’s the series. Scheme, personnel, obviously important, but if we don’t take care of the ball and we don’t box out, we’re not going to win the series.”
Game 2 Outlook
Game 2 tips off Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena, with the Lakers holding a 1-0 series lead. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will watch from the sideline once again, but the fact that Dončić is back in the gym — rebounding, passing, putting up shots — signals that the wait for his return may not be as long as feared. The Lakers’ long game is coming into focus.
Keep an eye on the Kevin Durant injury situation as well — his return for the Rockets could reshape this series just as quickly as Dončić’s comeback would for Los Angeles.
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