Mon Mar 03 04:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Lakers’ Reaves Exits Game Early with Calf Injury
**LOS ANGELES (AP)** — The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 106-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night, but the win came at a cost. Starting guard Austin Reaves exited the game early in the first quarter due to right calf tightness. He played only nine minutes, scoring six points before heading to the locker room. The team later announced he would not return.
Coach JJ Redick stated the decision to remove Reaves was precautionary. There was no further update on the severity of the injury post-game. Reaves’ absence was filled by Gabe Vincent and Jordan Goodwin, who contributed 13 points and seven steals.
The Lakers’ victory extends their winning streak to five games, despite also being without starting forward Rui Hachimura, who is sidelined with left patellar tendinopathy. Hachimura will be re-evaluated in a week and is expected to miss at least three more games. Dorian Finney-Smith started in his place.
Despite the injuries, LeBron James led the Lakers to victory, scoring 31 points against the Clippers. The team’s impressive run continues, with 11 wins in their last 13 games. This success comes amidst speculation and analysis surrounding recent player trades and the upcoming playoff push. The article also mentions other NBA news unrelated to the Lakers game, including MVP rankings and upcoming draft prospects.
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