Austin Reaves Could Return Friday and the Lakers Desperately Need Him

The injury report from Thursday night brought actual good news to Los Angeles for the first time in this series. Austin Reaves, sidelined since April 2 with an oblique strain, has been upgraded from out to questionable ahead of Friday's Game 3 against Houston. After sitting out the final five games of the regular season and the first two playoff games, Reaves might finally be back in the lineup when the Lakers need him most.

LeBron Has Been Carrying This Team Solo

The Lakers have somehow managed to stay alive without Reaves, but it has come at a cost. LeBron James has been doing the heavy lifting almost entirely on his own. Meanwhile, star guard Luka Dončić remains on the bench nursing a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Getting Reaves back, even questionable status, signals the Lakers' depth might be about to improve when they desperately need it.

Durant's Ankle Injury Adds Another Layer of Pain for Houston

On the flip side, the Rockets got rough news. Kevin Durant popped up on the injury report Thursday as questionable with a left ankle sprain. He missed Game 1 due to a right knee bruise suffered in practice, but managed to return for Game 2 and score 23 points in a loss. The Rockets' offense has already been struggling to get anything to fall this series. If Durant can't play or is limited, the rest of Houston's roster has to figure out how to generate good looks without him.

The East Is Getting Healthier

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid was upgraded from out to doubtful as he works his way back from an emergency appendectomy on April 9 that ended his regular season early. Whether he plays in Game 3 or not, the fact that the Sixers' star center is ramping up is a positive sign for a team that just stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 2 to even their series.

Health always decides the playoffs. Every team is hoping their stars can get back on the court in time to matter.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.