Austin Reaves Potential Return Timeline: Lakers Star Could Miss 10 Games After Heel Injury

Nov 11, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesThe Los Angeles Lakers’ star Austin Reaves injured his left heel in the third quarter last night against the Milwaukee Bucks while attempting a dunk on a fast break.While we await imaging results for a concrete timeline, Dr. Brian Sutterer, a renowned sports physician, offered a differential diagnosis for Reaves and summarized potential return timelines based on the injury’s severity.The best-case scenario here for the Lakers is that Reaves has a heel bruise, which would keep him out at least four games (1.3 weeks), if not more. Then, he could be looking at an ‘all plantar fascia’ injury, which would keep him out for at least nine games (2.7 weeks).The worst-case scenario for the Lakers would be a torn plantar fascia, which would keep Austin Reaves out for at least 10 games (2.9 weeks).“Plantar fascia strain/tear would be top of my list for Austin Reaves,” Dr. Sutterer wrote in the caption as he posted a report on the likely injuries Reaves could be facing.Having Austin Reaves out for that many games would certainly be a morale killer for the Lakers. He has been a reliable second option so far, averaging 24.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51.3% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the arc.However, their Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic remained confident that the roster is deep enough for Reaves to take his time and return when he’s fully healthy again.“I think we just got to have next-man-up mentality. Obviously, we lose a very, very good player. Hopefully it’s not – it’s nothing. We got to have next-man-up mentality,” Doncic said after the win over the Bucks last night.Even though Doncic also injured himself in the fourth quarter, he said he should be fine for their next game.The Lakers are now set to face the Suns on Sunday, November 15. Ahead of that fixture, ESPN’s Shams Charania gave the latest intel on the Lakers stars’ availability status against the Suns.“Good news for Luka Doncic. One source told me today that Luka Doncic actually woke up with no pain. He’s feeling good, I’m told, and he’s going to go through his normal treatment process in the lead-up to Sunday’s game in Phoenix”“As far as Austin Reaves is concerned, the expectation is that he’s gonna undergo tests for his heel injury at some point today. The Lakers landed back in Los Angeles from Milwaukee late last night, so I’m sure Austin Reaves slept a little. At some point, we’re going to get a re-examination done of his injury,” Charania concluded in his recent appearance on NBA Today.The Lakers will hope Reaves’ injury is nothing serious, given his importance to their offensive success this season. While Doncic appears likely to be available against the Suns, losing Reaves for an extended stretch would certainly be a challenge and a test of the Lakers’ depth.All eyes now turn to the imaging results. And we hope Reaves sees only the best-case scenario in this injury situation.