Lakers Coach Claims Mavericks MRI Error for Reaves Injury

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick accused the Dallas Mavericks medical staff of scanning the wrong area during an MRI for injured guard Austin Reaves last weekend, but the Mavericks denied any error, and Redick later expressed appreciation for the accommodation while indicating the team would move forward.

Reaves sustained a Grade 2 left oblique strain during the Lakers' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2 in Oklahoma City. The team traveled to Dallas for their next game, where Reaves underwent an MRI as part of the standard courtesy extended by host NBA teams to visiting players. After practice at Southern Methodist University on Saturday, Redick told reporters that the initial scan missed the correct portion of Reaves' body, necessitating a second MRI performed by Lakers staff upon their return to Los Angeles. "I don't know where the chain of command lies with Dallas imaging, but they scanned the wrong area," Redick said. "Not on our end. We made it explicit what was supposed to be scanned, but they scanned the wrong area."

The Mavericks responded with a statement disputing the characterization. "Our medical team followed standard imaging protocols based on the...