Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves could play against the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Reaves will be a game-time decision for the third consecutive contest, but the Lakers are optimistic the undrafted shooting guard will play for the first time since April 2.
Reaves is healing from a Grade 2 left oblique strain. He got hurt on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Reaves put up 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per contest this season for the Lakers, who are up 3-1 against the Rockets. He shot 49.0% from the floor, 36.0% from beyond the arc and 87.1% from the foul line.
Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The talented scorer and playmaker is widely expected to re-sign with Los Angeles.
If the Lakers beat the Rockets in the first round, they will face the Thunder in the second round. The Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
Reaves has spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers. He holds career averages of 15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
