Austin Reaves left the Lakers’ series-winning Game 6 victory against the Rockets with a potential injury after Amen Thompson threw him to the ground. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter after Thompson grabbed Reaves’ arm to ensure the guard had no chance of boxing out a defensive rebound.
Reaves shortly left the floor limping and grabbing his left quad. He didn’t return to finish the game as the Lakers were up big. However, Reaves also looked in pain and was receiving treatment on the bench. Here’s the video of Thompson’s off-ball play on Reaves and the Lakers guard limping to the bench:
It was only Reaves’ second game back from an oblique injury he sustained on Apr. 2 against the Thunder in the regular season. With the Lakers advancing to play the defending champions, potentially without Luka Doncic, they can’t afford another injury limiting Reaves.
Lakers fans were irate at Amen Thompson’s actions, calling him out for trying to injure Austin Reaves when the game was likely done.
“Playoff intensity is one thing… that was extra,” one fan said.
“Why don’t the refs see and call that. It isn’t like it was obscured,” another wrote.
“Up 24 tf is he playing for anyways,” one fan added.
“Dirty bums embarrassed they couldn’t take out 41-year-old LeBron in a series so they resort to this,” another said.
“Dirty asf He wanted to leave with something,” one fan wrote.
Austin Reaves rediscovers his rhythm quickly after his injury return
Austin Reaves played fearlessly in Game 6. He seemed as if he rediscovered his rhythm after making a series of plays at the rim despite his oblique injury. After shooting 4-for-16 in Game 5’s loss, Reaves returned with a 7-for-14 split in Game 6, which was massive in the Lakers’ winning the contest and closing out Houston on the road.
He had 15 points, three rebounds and two assists in this contest. Reaves had an eight-point third quarter, which kept the Lakers afloat as the Rockets tried to stage a comeback with a few runs.
It was crucial that Reaves hit the ground running instantly after his comeback, as the Lakers needed to close the Rockets as early as possible and needed Reaves to be close to his best against the Thunder in the next round.
The Lakers will be massive underdogs to beat OKC, but if Austin Reaves can penetrate the Thunder’s defense as he did in Game 6 against the Rockets, the Lakers will like their chances.
