Lakers Practice Report: JJ Redick stresses urgency as Austin Reaves remains game-time decision for Game 5
Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate a three point shot by Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA Playoffs basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Tuesday April 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers returned to practice Tuesday with a chance to close out their first-round playoff series Wednesday, holding a 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets after splitting the two games in Houston.
With the Lakers one win away from advancing, head coach JJ Redick emphasized a killer mindset the team needs to have entering Game 5. “Well, you have to kill them,” Redick said after practice. “You have to kill...
it’s difficult to kill someone. Survival instinct says, ‘I want to stay alive. ’ So you’ve got to be able to kill them.
” Redick’s message reflected the urgency of the moment despite the Lakers’ series advantage, as Houston will be desperate to keep their season alive after dismantling the Lakers in Game 4 without Kevin Durant. The Lakers could potentially get a boost in Game 5, as Austin Reaves remains a game-time decision after being out since March 2 with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Redick did not provide further clarity on Reaves’ status but said the guard is still a game-time decision for Wednesday night.
Reaves spoke to the media on Tuesday for the first time in four weeks about his injury and the frustration of being sidelined, saying being unable to have control of a game has been "miserable. " "The main thing is to get me back out there as fast as I can while not putting myself at risk to re-injure myself. Everybody has been extremely positive throughout this whole process.