The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers should be on great terms after the Mavs traded All-NBA and All-Star guard Luka Doncic to L.A. in February 2025.
But there was a minor rift over the past few days.
On Tuesday, Ron Harrod Jr. exclusively reported a statement from the Mavericks, firing back at Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
“Our medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the information provided at the time,” the Mavericks said, per Harrod Jr. “There was no error in the scan performed.”
On Saturday, Redick told reporters that Reaves underwent a second MRI after the Mavericks botched the first.
“I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” Redick said. “Not on our end. We were explicit in what was supposed to be scanned, but they scanned the wrong area.”
Later Saturday, the Lakers announced that Reaves had been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury, which ESPN’s Shams Charania reported will likely sideline Reaves for four to six weeks.
The Lakers lost to the Mavericks 134-128 at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday.
The loss marked the Lakers’ first game without Reaves and Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain last Thursday night. Doncic, en route to winning his second career NBA scoring title, and Reaves have been the Lakers’ top two scorers this season.
The Athletic‘s Dan Woike reported on Sunday that Doncic “will seek medical treatment in Europe in a hope to try and quicken his return.”
At the very least, Doncic will miss the Lakers’ four remaining regular-season games before the NBA playoffs start on April 18.
The Lakers (50-28) will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) without LeBron James (left foot injury management) on Tuesday night.
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