Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will not play against the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 8 as he continues to work through a groin strain that has kept him out of action going on a week.

Reaves has only been available for seven of the Lakers’ nine games so far, and will now miss his third in a row as Los Angeles takes to the court for the first of five games on the road from Nov. 8 to Nov. 15. 

Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) on X Austin Reaves (right groin strain) is listed as out for tomorrow’s game at Atlanta.

In those seven contests, Reaves has been a difference-maker for the Lakers, as he has averaged 31.1 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. On the scoring end in particular, he has upped his average of 20.2 points per game last year by almost 11 points. 

This mark will not remain as high as it is now as the season progresses, given the Lakers will eventually have high-scoring players returning from injury, such as four-time NBA champion forward LeBron James, but through this first chunk of the season, Los Angeles has been able to count on the fifth-year guard when it has mattered most.  

Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) on X Austin Reaves is the sixth player to average 30+ PPG and 10+ APG in his first five games of a season.

Lakers Playing Undermanned 

Just three weeks into the 2025-26 NBA regular season, availability has proven to be the biggest thorn in the Lakers’ side. 

James has yet to play in a game this season, as he’s been out with a sciatica issue. Gabe Vincent is also out, having only played in three games before being sidelined with a left ankle sprain. Luka Dončić has only been available for five games. 

With key players weaving in and out of the rotation, it has been hard to solidify a consistent flow from night to night. Luckily for the Lakers, however, lineup inconsistency hasn’t presented any problems about getting in the win column. 

When they have not been available, players beyond just Dončić and Reaves have met the moment, contributing in a myriad of ways in the Lakers’ oftentimes gritty wins this season. Players like Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart have all added significant sparks throughout the last few games. 

Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) on X "Tough win." @SixtUSA x #LakersWin

Despite all of the team’s injuries, the Lakers are 7-2. In this next five-game stretch, they will play three teams currently below .500 in the Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, and the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Tonight, the Lakers will match up against the 4-5 Hawks, and, without Reaves, will lean on other players to compensate for his absence once again, like they had to in their last game against the San Antonio Spurs.

“Without [Reaves], without [James], [Dončić’s] teammates are looking to him to keep that resolve and keep that positive disposition, and he was able to do that throughout the game,” Redick said in a postgame press conference on Nov. 5. “Which, look, that's an area of growth, and I thought he was great with that tonight.”

Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.