The Lakers' MRI Mess in Dallas: Who Really Messed Up Austin Reaves' Scan?

The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks are locked in a blame game over a botched MRI that cost Austin Reaves crucial diagnosis time and has the Lakers scrambling down the stretch. Lakers coach JJ Redick isn't mincing words: he says the Mavs scanned the wrong part of Reaves' body, and now Dallas is pushing back hard.

Redick Says Dallas Dropped the Ball

Following the Lakers' practice on SMU's campus Saturday in Dallas, Redick made it crystal clear who he thinks messed up. Reaves needed two separate MRIs to finally get a proper diagnosis of a Grade 2 left oblique strain, and Redick wasn't happy about it.

"I don't know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area," Redick said. "So the mistake was not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned, but they scanned the wrong area."

The injury happened in the first half of the Lakers' 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last Thursday. Reaves actually returned to finish the game, posting a team-high 15 points in 27 minutes. But that MRI miscue cost them valuable time in diagnosis and treatment.

Dallas Fires Back: We Followed Protocol

The Mavericks aren't taking the heat quietly. In a statement first issued to DLLS Sports on Tuesday and later provided to ESPN, Dallas pushed back on Redick's accusation.

"Our medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the information provided at the time," the Mavericks said. "There was no error in the scan performed."

A Lakers spokesperson declined to comment when ESPN asked about the chain of events, leaving Redick's version of events as the loudest voice in the room right now.

The Real Damage: Reaves Out for the Stretch Run

The Lakers ruled Reaves out for the remainder of the regular season with no specific timetable, but sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks. That's a massive hit for L.A. down the stretch.

The Lakers sit at 50-28 and currently hold the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference. They trail the No. 3 Denver Nuggets by just a half-game but own the tiebreaker after winning the season series. With four games left, every win matters. The Lakers host the Thunder on Tuesday, then face a back-to-back on the road against the Warriors on Thursday and at home against the Suns on Friday before closing against the Jazz on Sunday at home.

Whether Dallas or L.A. gets the blame for that MRI mix-up, one thing's certain: the Lakers needed Reaves healthy for this final stretch. Now they have to find a way without him.

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