Lakers G Austin Reaves (calf) reportedly headed for MRI

Field Level Media|published: 12/26/2025, 1:11am EST

Dec 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) moves the ball against Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves exited the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the visiting Houston Rockets on Thursday night due to left calf soreness, and he is headed for MRI exam on Friday, according to The Athletic and ESPN.

Reaves, the team's second-leading scorer this season behind Luka Doncic, scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 15 minutes during the first half.

Reaves missed a 3-point attempt at the first-half buzzer, then he did not come out of the locker room after intermission.

The Lakers trailed 63-53 at halftime and fell behind even further during the third quarter en route to a 119-96 defeat.

Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds through 23 games (22 starts) in his fifth NBA season, all with Los Angeles. He missed three games earlier this month due to a strain to the same calf, and he was in his second game back.

--Field Level Media