The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, but the win came at a cost. Three of the Lakers’ main rotation players, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and Collin Sexton, all suffered second-half injury scares.
Reaves Leaves With Heel Injury
Reaves’s injury was the most serious. He exited the game with a left heel injury and did not return.
Reaves landed awkwardly after a missed fast-break dunk with 8:21 to play in the third quarter. He came back into the game after a timeout, then subbed himself out with 5:20 remaining in the period. He limped off the court, accompanied by Lakers medical personnel.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said X-rays taken on Reaves’s heel at the arena came back negative. Redick added that the team will not know more about Reaves’s status until he undergoes further evaluation when the Lakers return to Los Angeles on Thursday. He did rule out any concerns about Reaves’s Achilles tendon.
“No update on AR until we’ll have imaging tomorrow,” Redick said.
Reaves finished with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting, five assists and three steals in 25 minutes before he left.
Doncic Rolls Ankle, Stays in Game
Doncic turned his right ankle with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. He was attempting a long jump shot when Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma fouled him with leg-to-leg contact. Doncic seemingly avoided serious injury.
“I’m good,” said Doncic, who finished with 32 points. “Obviously painful a little bit, but I’ll be fine.”
Doncic also addressed the team’s depth without Reaves.
“I think we just got to have next-man-up mentality,” Doncic said. “Obviously, we lose a very, very good player. Hopefully it’s not — it’s nothing. We got to have next-man-up mentality.”
Sexton Needs Stitches
Lakers backup guard Collin Sexton bumped heads with Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins with 6:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, which forced him out of the game. Redick said Sexton needed stitches above his right eye.
Lakers Get Rest Before Next Game
The schedule gives Los Angeles some time to recover. The Lakers do not play again until Sunday, when they face the Phoenix Suns on the road.