The Los Angeles Lakers are banged up heading into a game with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Guard Austin Reaves and forward Adou Thiero are out for the game, per Clutchpoints reporter Brett Siegel. Los Angeles is coming off a win on Monday against the Chicago Bulls.
Reaves is dealing with a calf strain, and has missed significant time. He has been out of the lineup since December. He is averaging more than 26 points a game this season for the Lakers.
Thiero has a sprained right MCL. He is averaging a little more than one point and one rebound a contest. The big man has appeared in 15 games this season, but averages just under six minutes per game.
The Lakers are 28-17 on the season, with wins in back-to-back games.
Lakers are trying to gain momentum
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Los Angeles has one of the hottest players in basketball this season in star Luka Doncic. Doncic scored 46 points and added 12 assists in a 129-118 win over Chicago Monday. He is averaging close to 34 points a game and picking up the slack with Reaves out hurt.
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Doncic feels the team is clicking at a good time.
“I think just staying together, everybody is just staying together,” Doncic said in his postgame presser Monday. “Everybody is just having fun out there.”
Los Angeles has just five wins in their last 10 games. The Lakers though have put together some impressive performances in their last two contests. Those were wins over Chicago and the Dallas Mavericks.
Lakers fans hope that Reaves and Thiero can return to the club soon. Reaves has been going through full-contact activities, so he is getting closer to returning to the floor.
“We talked a lot earlier in the season about his leadership and he’s been very engaged during this stretch when he’s been out. He’s a connective tissue for us on the floor and we’re all looking forward to getting him back,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said about Reaves, per the New York Post.
The Lakers and Cavaliers play Wednesday at 7:00 ET. Cleveland enters Wednesday's game with a 28-20 record.