The Mavericks disputed how Lakers coach JJ Redick charactersized the imaging process that led to Austin Reaves being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain.
After the Lakers’ practice on Saturday at Southern Methodist University, Redick said the team was waiting for the results of Reaves’ MRI after he suffered the oblique injury during last Thursday’s loss to the Thunder.
At the time, Redick said Reaves’ second MRI was on Saturday after the team arrived in Dallas on Friday.
The Mavericks disputed how Lakers coach JJ Redick charactersized the imaging process that led to Austin Reaves being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images “Again, I don’t know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area,” Redick said. “So not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned but they scanned the wrong area.”
The Mavericks issued a statement, first to DLLS Sports, that disputed Redick’s comments.
“Our medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the information provided at the time,” the Mavericks said. “There was no error in the scan performed.”
When asked about the comment ahead of the Lakers’ home game against the Thunder on Tuesday, Redick said the Lakers were going to move forward.
“Well, I just, look, I think in the end we got the image we needed,” Redick said. “And obviously very appreciative, because it’s happened throughout the season whenever the home team is accommodating to us, just like we would be for them. And we’re gonna move on.”
Reaves is out for the remainder of the regular season because of the oblique injury, joining fellow star guard Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) as Lakers who are on the shelf for the foreseeable future.
Reaves is out for the remainder of the regular season because of the oblique injury. NBAE via Getty Images Smart update Marcus Smart missed his eighth consecutive game on Tuesday, but Redick said the starting guard should be back in the lineup within the next few days.
“He’s progressing well,” Redick said. “We thought he’d be back by now. It’s not that he had a setback last week. He was doing on-court work and he wanted to dial it back. So he had a great day [on Tuesday] on the court, trending towards playing at some point this week.”
The Lakers will play the Warriors in San Francisco on Thursday before hosting the Suns on Friday.
Star forward LeBron James also wasn’t available on Tuesday against the Thunder, sitting because of left foot injury management.
With Doncic in Spain to seek medical treatment for his hamstring, Redick emphasized how Doncic is motivated to do what he can to get back on the court as soon as possible during the Lakers’ playoff run.
“I’m not going to share how long he’s gonna be over there, but I think he’s in good spirits,” Redick said “In my conversations with him, he’s motivated to do everything possible. And I know for him, it’s hard for him not to be on a basketball court. That’s his happy place. And he’s one of the handful of guys that really plays year round. And it’s not just international competition. But he likes to be in the gym. He likes to be working on his craft. And I think it’s hard for him. He wants to get back on the court.”
