Austin Reaves returned to action Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers attempted to close out their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Game 5.
Reaves had missed the previous nine games because of injury, leaving the Lakers without one of their key rotation players during a critical stretch. His return added depth to Los Angeles’ backcourt as the team pursued a series-clinching win.
The matchup marked an important moment in the Lakers’ postseason push, with Los Angeles entering Game 5 in position to advance. Reaves’ availability gave the team another option as it sought to finish the series and move on to the next round.