To the surprise of most, things have gone very well for the Los Angeles Lakers so far in their first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets. They have scratched and clawed their way to a 3-0 series lead after a gritty 112-108 overtime win in Game 3 on Friday, and things are apparently about to get even better for them.
Austin Reaves, who has been out since sustaining an oblique strain on April 2, was abruptly listed as questionable for Game 3. He went through his pre-game preparations before the decision was made to hold him out of action.
But according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Reaves is expected to make his return in Game 4 on Sunday.
Needless to say, Reaves' return will take plenty of pressure off his teammates. He will give Los Angeles not only a big scoring threat but also another ball-handler and facilitator. Over the last few weeks, LeBron James, at age 41, has reverted to his old role as L.A.'s main scorer and facilitator, while sharpshooter Luke Kennard has played on the ball much more than he is accustomed to.
Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds a game during the regular season. He previously missed several weeks in the middle of the season with a gastrocnemius strain.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2, doesn't seem close to returning. However, he has started doing some light shooting under the supervision of the Lakers' coaching staff.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Charania: Austin Reaves expected to return for Game 4 vs Rockets
