Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was playing through a left big toe sprain, considered a 2-4 week injury.

Although LeBron James and Luka Dončić were viewed as the go-to guys who needed to largely carry the Lakers come playoff time, Reaves was one of three players on the roster who averaged over 20 points per game this season, so his contributions were needed as well.

Had the Lakers extended the best-of-seven series against the Timberwolves to a Game 6, they very likely would've been significantly short-handed.