The Los Angeles Lakers face mounting injury concerns as Austin Reaves underwent an MRI on his left oblique/rib area Saturday, leaving him questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The injury compounds the team's challenges after Luka Doncic was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that will sideline him indefinitely. Coach JJ Redick said the team's resolve remains strong despite being undermanned.

With Reaves' status uncertain and Marcus Smart also day-to-day, the Lakers must navigate their final five regular-season games without two key contributors. Los Angeles holds a precarious position in the Western Conference standings, maintaining slim leads over the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves for the crucial 3-seed. The Lakers possess tiebreakers against all three teams, having won each season series.

Should Reaves be unable to play, Redick plans to expand the rotation to 11 players, potentially including G League call-ups Kobe Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr., and Dalton Knecht. LeBron James acknowledged the challenge of replacing Doncic's impact, noting the team must collectively do more while tightening up defensively. The Lakers face a demanding closing schedule with playoff implications against Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Phoenix before finishing at home against Utah.