Luka Dončić still out indefinitely, but Austin Reaves reportedly nearing return to Lakers with on-court work

Luka Dončić still out indefinitely, but Austin Reaves reportedly nearing return to Lakers with on-court work

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have some clarity with one of their injured stars, but not Luka Dončić.

Austin Reaves, currently recovering from a Grade 2 oblique strain, recently began 1-on-1 on-court work and is theoretically on track for a return either later in the Lakers’ first-round series or early in the Western Conference semifinals, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Reaves still reportedly has to progress through 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 work before making a return, but he’s ahead of Dončić, who remains out indefinitely with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is not expected to play in the first round.

That update came a day after Reaves and Dončić were both seen on the practice court, but not doing any intense work.

The Lakers entered Tuesday with a 1-0 lead over the Houston Rockets after their win in Game 1.

The Rockets were strongly favored going into the series due to the absences of the Lakers’ two leading scorers, but Houston surprisingly found itself without its own leading scorer when Kevin Durant was ruled out with a knee contusion.

The result of that was a completely out-of-sync offense for the Rockets in Game 1, while LeBron James and Luke Kennard led the short-handed Lakers to a surprise victory.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.

by Editor

Blazers’ lack of fan T-shirts invites questions

Blazers’ lack of fan T-shirts invites questions

The Portland Trail Blazers won’t give away T-shirts for fans when they take on the San Antonio Spurs in Games 3 and 4 of the opening series, another in a series of moves that has drawn questions about the team’s cost-cutting and finances.

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Kingston Flemings Declares For 2026 NBA Draft

Kingston Flemings Declares For 2026 NBA Draft

University of Houston guard Kingston Flemings has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2026 NBA Draft. Flemings is declaring after his freshman season with the Cougars.

ESPN has Flemings ranked as the seventh-best prospect in their Top 100 for the 2026 draft. He’s the fourth-ranked guard behind Darryn Peterson, Keaton Wagler and Darius Acuff Jr.

In his lone season with the Cougars, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals. Flemings shot 47.6% from the field, including 38.7% on three-pointers.

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'We've just got to be ready': Jalen Brunson, Knicks embrace playoff intensity entering Game 2 against Hawks

'We've just got to be ready': Jalen Brunson, Knicks embrace playoff intensity entering Game 2 against Hawks

After Game 1 at MSG, Knicks‘ first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks does not lack playoff intensity.

Saturday’s 113-102 New York win saw Knicks captain Jalen Brunson outduel CJ McCollum, who took issue with his technical foul after a kick to Brunson’s midsection during a shot at the third quarter’s 1:40 mark and the Hawks facing a 57-55 deficit.

“I shot a jumper and Jalen thought we were at a Broadway show,” McCollum said after Saturday’s game. “He acted it out until they reviewed it. It’s a normal jump shot, nothing there — unnecessary, and I look forward to getting my $2,500 (fine) back.”

Brunson told reporters after the Knicks’ Sunday practice that he has “no reaction” to McCollum’s postgame comments.

“I didn’t see it,” New York coach Mike Brown said Sunday of McCollum’s postgame comments. “A lot of guys are going to say a lot of things throughout the course of the playoffs. So, whatever people want to say, that’s up to them.”

Brunson’s game-high 28 points edged McCollum’s 26, combining with Knicks co-star Karl-Anthony Towns to lead a full team effort for third-seeded New York against sixth-seeded Atlanta.

“We’ve just got to be ready for them,” Brunson said Sunday, referencing Monday’s 8 p.m. tipoff for Game 2. “You just know that teams usually bounce back after a loss, and so we’ve got to be ready to up our intensity, up our physicality and just be ready to match theirs. They’re a good team, they’re well-coached and they’re going to be ready to go.”

The Knicks seek a 2-0 lead at the Garden before the best-of-seven set goes to Atlanta for Thursday’s 7 p.m. Game 3.

“It’s one of those things you have to be there and experience it to really understand it,” New York wing Josh Hart said of MSG’s postseason energy Sunday. “Obviously, regular season’s always fun, it’s always cool. And I was talking to (Yankees right-hander) Cam Schlittler (Saturday) about it — playoffs in New York is different. The vibe is different. Everything is heightened in the Garden and, obviously, for them at Yankee Stadium. You’ve got to experience it, man — the energy, the passion, the love, it’s crazy.”

by Editor