Lakers' Austin Reaves: Not ready to return

Reaves (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) won't be available for Tuesday's game against the Rockets.

Reaves is one of four Lakers still in the health and safety protocols as Tuesday's game approaches, but his absence should be coming to an end soon. Given that he entered the protocols Dec. 17, Reaves should be eligible to end his quarantine as soon as he's asymptomatic and/or testing negative for the virus. Even so, Reaves may need some time to build up his conditioning following a multi-game layoff, so he could be at risk of missing Wednesday's game in Memphis, too.