The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, but three of their main rotation players, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and Collin Sexton, all suffered second-half injury scares.
Reaves’ injury was the most serious. He landed awkwardly after a missed fast-break dunk with 8:21 left in the third quarter and returned after a timeout. He subbed himself out with 5:20 remaining in the third, limped off the court and was accompanied to the back by Lakers medical personnel. He did not return. Reaves finished with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting, five assists and three steals in 25 minutes.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said X-rays taken on Reaves’ heel at the arena were negative. Redick said he would not know more about Reaves’ status until further evaluation when the team returns to Los Angeles on Thursday, but he ruled out any concerns about Reaves’ Achilles tendon.
“No update on AR until we’ll have imaging tomorrow,” Redick said.
Doncic turned his right ankle with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. He was attempting a long jump shot when the Bucks’ Kyle Kuzma fouled him with leg-to-leg contact. Doncic seemingly avoided a serious injury and finished with 32 points.
“I’m good,” Doncic said. “Obviously painful a little bit, but I’ll be fine.”
Doncic also addressed the team’s depth without Reaves.
“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.”
Sexton Needs Stitches
Backup guard Collin Sexton also left the game. He bumped heads with the Bucks’ Ryan Rollins with 6:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. Redick said Sexton needed stitches above his right eye.
The Lakers have some time to recover. They don’t play again until Sunday, when they face the Phoenix Suns on the road.