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The most pressing concern involves guard Austin Reaves, who was forced to exit the game due to a left heel injury. Reaves sustained the injury after landing awkwardly following a missed fast-break dunk attempt with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter. Although he initially attempted to play through the discomfort, he subbed himself out just over three minutes later and was escorted to the locker room by medical staff. Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed that initial X-rays taken at the arena were negative, though further evaluation is scheduled upon the team's return to Los Angeles on Thursday. Redick did note, however, that there are currently no concerns regarding Reaves' Achilles tendon.
Injury woes mount for Lakers rotation
Before his departure, Reaves had been a productive presence on the floor, contributing 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting, along with five assists and three steals in 25 minutes of action. Following the game, teammate
Doncic himself endured a scare late in the fourth quarter when he turned his right ankle while attempting a jump shot. Despite the contact with Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma, the star guard remained in the game and later reassured reporters that he expects to be fine, despite the initial pain. Doncic concluded the night with a team-high 32 points.
The Lakers' depth was further tested when backup guard Collin Sexton was forced to leave the court with 6:51 left in the final period. Sexton suffered a head injury after a collision with Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins and required stitches above his right eye, according to Redick. The team now has a brief window to recover, as they are not scheduled to play again until Sunday, when they face the Phoenix Suns on the road.