Lakers star Austin Reaves will not play in Game 3 at Houston - BERITAJA

HOUSTON — He pulled connected his headband for illustration aged times, but Austin Reaves will not make his playoff debut yet.

The prima Lakers defender warmed up for Game 3 successful Houston but was ruled retired earlier crippled clip Friday.

The Rockets, already trailing 2-0 successful the best-of-seven series, will beryllium without Kevin Durant. The prima guardant was ruled retired pinch a near ankle sprain, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said earlier the game. Durant, who missed Game 1 because of a knee contusion, suffered the latest wounded successful the 4th fourth of Game 2. He turned his ankle connected a modulation play, but stayed successful the game. In the 2 days since past he knowledgeable swelling successful the ankle. Durant was remarkably durable this season, ranking 2nd successful the convention successful minutes played, trailing only teammate Amen Thompson.

Reaves was upgraded to questionable Thursday, a astonishing three-week progression from erstwhile he was grabbing astatine his near precocious broadside successful the first half of a crippled against Oklahoma City connected April 2.

The emblematic timeline for a Grade 2 wounded is 4 to six weeks. Reaves and Luka Doncic some suffered injuries of the aforesaid people during the aforesaid game. But pinch Reaves’ being an precocious assemblage injury— a near oblique strain — compared to Doncic’s strained near hamstring, Reaves was capable to return to the tribunal sooner. Doncic went to Spain to person specialized curen pinch hopes of speeding up his betterment and rejoined the squad connected the sideline past Saturday successful clip for Game 1.

Doncic did immoderate ray shooting aft believe Wednesday but wasn’t connected the tribunal during believe the aforesaid arsenic Reaves, Redick said. Reaves resumed on-court activity earlier this week, but Redick did not update the timeline for Reaves’ expected return. Reaves participated successful stay-ready games — on-court sessions pinch coaches and unit members — while receiving curen for his injury.

Reaves suffered the wounded successful the first 4th against Oklahoma City erstwhile he was reaching for a loose ball. He many times reached for his near broadside during the first half, but was evaluated by the Lakers’ aesculapian unit astatine halftime and cleared to return successful the eventual 36-point loss.

Doncic near successful the 3rd 4th aft hurting his hamstring, the aforesaid wounded that costs him 4 games earlier this season.