The Los Angeles Lakers' backcourt took a huge hit last month when the team lost G Austin Reaves for an extended period due to a calf strain. At long last, it’s possible that the Lakers could be getting Reaves back for Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET
Let’s take a look at the latest Austin Reaves injury update for Friday vs. the Wizards, plus some key stats and PrizePicks picks for who could benefit if Reaves can't return.
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Austin Reaves Injury Update: Is Reaves Playing Tonight vs. Wizards?
The Lakers officially upgraded Reaves to questionable for Friday’s game with the left calf strain. Reaves suffered the injury in a Christmas Day loss against the Houston Rockets and hasn’t played since.
Reaves was limited to just 15 minutes in that game before being forced to leave.
PG Luka Doncic (questionable, ankle) leads the Lakers in the scoring department, averaging 33.6 points per contest. With that said, Reaves was in the midst of a career season before going down. In 23 games, he poured in 26.6 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 5.2 RPG while shooting 36.5% from deep.
Lakers Player to Target if Reaves Is Out vs. Wizards
If Reaves isn’t able to make his return, G Marcus Smart is a player who could continue to benefit from his absence.
Obviously, the Lakers would welcome Reaves’ presence back into the lineup. However, Smart has been an adequate addition to the starting lineup recently. The veteran guard has proven to be a well-rounded piece, averaging 9.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 2.7 APG.
While Smart isn’t the explosive scorer that Reaves is, the Oklahoma State product has finished in double figures in seven of his last nine games, including four of his last five.
Smart has been shooting well from beyond the arc lately, boasting a 36.8% clip (7-of-19) over his last five contests. That could be a huge feather in his cap, considering that the Wizards rank just 18th in defending the 3 this season.
According to databallr, Smart also spends 17.4% of his time on the ball, ranking in the 73rd percentile. Smart receives plenty of playmaking opportunities on a nightly basis for a Lakers team that possesses plenty of offensive weapons.
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Marcus Smart Stats, Projections vs. Wizards
Here are the most popular Marcus Smart player picks for Lakers vs. Wizards tonight, via PrizePicks, where you can pick More or Less on player stats to earn real money.
- 10 Points
- 2.5 Assists
- 12.5 Pts + Asts
- 12.5 Pts + Rebs
- 1.5 3-PT Made
Make Lakers vs. Wizards Picks on PrizePicks
It’s possible that the Lakers could see G Austin Reaves return to the lineup for Friday’s game against the Wizards.
Even if Reaves doesn’t play, there are plenty of Lakers player picks to consider on PrizePicks, including ones for Smart. Just pick at least two player stat projections, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you're right. With PrizePicks Team Picks, you can also make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders.
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