The Los Angeles Lakers faced an early exit from the NBA playoffs after being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round. LeBron James sustained a sprained MCL during the game, which will require several weeks for recovery. While all rotation players were available, several were not at full strength, notably Rui Hachimura, who struggled with patellar tendonitis. Austin Reaves also played through a sprained toe, impacting his performance as he averaged 16.2 points in the series, significantly lower than his regular season average of 20.2 points per game.

Reaves' shooting percentages dipped to 41.1% overall and 31.9% from beyond the arc, indicating that his ailment likely played a role in his struggles. His playoff performance starkly contrasted with his end-of-season surge, where he had been a reliable scoring option for the Lakers. The offseason now presents an opportunity for Reaves and his teammates to recover and regroup ahead of next season.