Why is Austin Reaves not playing tonight against Timberwolves? Reason behind Lakers guard's absence explored (Dec. 2)

The LA Lakers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday without one of their key players, Austin Reaves. The Lakers (12-8) reported Reaves will miss his second straight game due to a pelvis contusion. In their Sunday game against the Utah Jazz, the 6-foot-5 guard missed the game for the same reason.

Reaves has played 19 games for the Lakers as a starter, averaging 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. The 26-year-old guard has struggled to be a consistent threat from deep, shooting a lowly 32.1% from three over the past four games.

How did Austin Reaves get injured?

On Friday's 101-93 loss during the Lakers' Emirates NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Austin Reaves sustained a pelvic injury after an attempt to attack the rim. During the second quarter, the guard drove to the basket and had contact with big man Isaiah Hartenstein and star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Reaves had a terrible fall and stayed on the floor for a moment. Although his team walked him to the locker room, he returned to play during the third quarter. The Lakers guard played 29 minutes of action, including the last few minutes of the game.

Dan Woike of the LA Times covered Reaves' injuries and found that there was no structural damage to his pelvis following the incident.

"Sources tell me Austin Reaves received imaging on his back and that it showed no structural damage after a scary fall Friday against OKC. He is with the team on their flight to SLC but he’s dealing with soreness from the play," Woike reported.

Ahead of their game against the Wolves, Woike reported that Reaves has been listed as "day-to-day."

In his postgame interview following their defeat, the Lakers' head coach made light of Austin Reaves' injuries.

"Vantage point of the play was an airborne player and he made a play on the ball," Redick said. "That's why I stopped dunking very early in my life."

The Lakers have reinstated veteran guard D'Angelo Russell in the starting lineup following Reaves' injury update. Russell was labeled as unwell and would miss Sunday's game against the Jazz.

Russell started as the point guard for the team's first eight games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.8 assists on 29.2% shooting from deep. However, he's taken on a bench role since then and has slightly increased his shooting efficiency from deep to 31.7%.