Austin Reaves is back on the Lakers' day-to-day list with an ankle issue after being cleared from that tag earlier Thursday. The flip-flop leaves his status unresolved just before Los Angeles hosts the Kings that night.
What happened
Austin Reaves is listed as day-to-day on the Lakers' injury report issued Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9:00 PM ET, with an ankle issue. He opened the week day-to-day with an ankle and leg issue on Monday, Oct. 5, was cleared from the day-to-day tag earlier Thursday, then was marked day-to-day again by the time of the latest report. Luca Evans of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Reaves would not play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Warriors because of the ankle. No further detail on the injury has been announced.
What it means for the Lakers
The Lakers host the Kings Thursday at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN2, and the ankle issue puts Reaves' availability for that game in question. Last season he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 34.5 minutes across 51 games, a backcourt workload the Lakers count on. In games without him, Luka Doncic has logged 35.8 minutes and 33.5 points, LeBron James 33.2 minutes and 20.9 points, and Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard and Gabe Vincent have all seen extended run. The Lakers are 0-0, since the 2026-27 regular season has not started, so there is no with-or-without-Reaves record yet.
What to watch
The Lakers have not announced an expected return date for Reaves. His next official update will come on the team's following injury report, which will show whether the ankle allows him to play Thursday against the Kings or beyond. Until then, his status stands as day-to-day as the preseason schedule continues ahead of the 2026-27 regular-season opener.
Is Austin Reaves playing vs Kings?
Reaves is day-to-day with an ankle issue as of the Thursday, Oct. 8, 9:00 PM ET injury report, and his availability for that night's game against the Kings has not been confirmed.
When will Austin Reaves be back?
The Lakers have not announced an expected return date for Reaves.