With the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Chicago Bulls on March 27, the question on everybody’s mind is simply: Will Austin Reaves be available? Injuries have been a theme of late for the Lakers, but with the playoffs approaching, every game is important. Meanwhile, Chicago is experiencing its own litany of health concerns in what makes for an unpredictable battle at the United Center.

Reaves’ ankle has been a hot topic, especially after he exited the Lakers’ game against the Indiana Pacers with an apparent injury. But is this something to panic about or just a minor setback? Let’s dive into the latest injury updates and what they mean for this high-stakes matchup.

Lakers’ injury watch: Latest updates before the Bulls showdown!

For a team that’s been juggling injuries all season, the Lakers’ current status is actually one of their better moments. Right now, only one name officially sits on the injury list—Maxi Kleber, who remains out with a foot issue. The real concern, of course, is Reaves, who has been pushing through ankle trouble for a while now.

During the recent game against the Pacers, Reaves had a brief scare when he tweaked his ankle again, forcing him to head back to the locker room. Given that he had already sprained that same ankle just a week earlier against the Milwaukee Bucks, fans had every reason to worry. But he himself put those concerns to rest. When asked how he feels after the game, Reaves said, “I feel great, even better after a win, so we’ll be back at it tomorrow.” That’s as good a sign as any that he intends to suit up against the Bulls.

Beyond Reaves, the Lakers are in much better shape than they were just a few weeks ago. LeBron James, who had been dealing with a groin issue, is now fully cleared. Rui Hachimura is also back in action after being previously listed with an injury. With those two available, the Lakers are rolling into this game healthier than they’ve been in a while. Let’s have a look at the depth chart.

On the other side, Chicago has a much bigger injury headache. The Bulls are monitoring six players, including Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and Lonzo Ball, all of whom are game-time decisions. Josh Giddey, Jahmir Young, and Tre Jones are also on the report, while Ayo Dosunmu is officially out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. With so much uncertainty, the Bulls’ rotation could look very different depending on who gets the green light before tip-off.

Why Reaves’ status matters more than ever

Reaves might not be the Lakers’ biggest star, but his importance to this team can’t be overstated. Over the last 20 games, he’s been putting up 18.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while knocking down 2.6 three-pointers a night. That kind of production has been critical, especially with the team struggling to find consistency.

The Lakers have been stuck in a rough stretch, going 3-7 in their last ten games. The defense has been shaky, and their offense has relied heavily on Luka Doncic to carry the load. Having Reaves at full strength gives them another much-needed weapon—especially against a Bulls team that just embarrassed them in their last meeting, a brutal 146-115 loss on March 22.

In that game, Coby White dropped 36 points while Giddey nearly pulled off a quadruple-double. If White plays this time, the Lakers will need all the scoring and perimeter defense they can get. That’s where Reaves comes in—his ability to create shots and space the floor could make a major difference in avoiding another blowout.

While Reaves’ ankle situation had Lakers fans holding their breath, his post-game comments suggest he’s ready to go against Chicago. And with LeBron and Hachimura also back in the mix, Los Angeles is in a much stronger position than they were just a week ago. The Bulls’ long list of injuries adds another layer of uncertainty, but if they get key players back, this could be another high-scoring battle.

For the Lakers, this game isn’t just about getting revenge for last week’s loss—it’s about regaining momentum as the playoffs approach. If Reaves can shake off his ankle trouble and stay on the court, they’ll have a much better shot at doing just that.