The Lakers have looked unstoppable since the All-Star break. They have now jumped to the third seed in the West after winning their last five games. Sure enough, they hope to continue that momentum tonight as they face the Clippers in a rematch. But the LA team’s recent injury woes could put their dominant run in jeopardy, as JJ Redick gives major update on Austin Reaves’ return and another key player’s health.

Well, Reaves left Friday’s Clippers clash early in the first half after suffering a calf injury. Fortunately, the MRI revealed no serious issue, but the shooting guard has been deemed day-to-day and will remain sidelined tonight. However, Redick is relieved that the injury did not put Reaves out for a significant period. “Felt like it was good news, and that there wasn’t any structural or any muscle injury. So, you know we will manage him like we would any other player.”

Of course, there is still no set timeline on Reaves’ return, as JJ added, “When he’s ready to go, he’ll be back.” The Lakers need him back as soon as possible because AR has gradually turned into their third star behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Showing significant improvement this season, Reaves has upped his averages to 19.1 points and six assists. Unfortunately, he is not the only player raising concerns for JJ because of his health.

Turns out, Jordan Goodwin will also sit out tonight’s game as he has been diagnosed with a grade one right ankle sprain. Even he does not have a set timeline for return and could miss multiple games. But once again, JJ Redick is happy that the injury is not serious, as he told the media this is “the best version of bad news you can get.” Grade one is the lowest classification of a sprain, which means Goodwin could return soon.

It was only last month that Rob Pelinka signed Goodwin on a two-way contract, and he has surprisingly turned into a key part of JJ’s rotation in such a short span. In his eight appearances, Jordan is averaging 6.1 points and nearly four rebounds off the bench. But the Lakers’ concerns don’t end with Goodwin and AR’s injuries.

Rui Hachimura setback amid injury woes puts Lakers’ playoff push in jeopardy

In Goodwin and Reaves’ absence, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, and Shake Milton are likely to see an increase in minutes. While the team has decent depth to stay afloat, these injuries toward the end of the season are not a good sign for them. Even Rui Hachimura has been ruled out for at least another week after being diagnosed with left patellar tendinopathy. He hurt his knee by landing awkwardly after a fastbreak dunk during the Wolves clash.

As of now, Rui will be reassessed in a week, and could miss even more time if his knee is not fully healed. There goes another consistent double-digit scorer who is also an elite defender. While the Lakers have been on fire recently, these injuries could lead to them losing their grip on the final leg of the season and falling in the standings.

More so because Luka and LeBron are also playing through lingering injuries. And even if they finish top five in the West, there is no guarantee that these setbacks will not take a toll on them in the playoffs. So, JJ Redick might be heading toward some serious trouble come playoff time. What are your thoughts?