LOS ANGELES -- Lakers guard Austin Reaves underwent an MRI on his left calf muscle Friday that revealed a Grade 2 gastrocnemius strain, the team announced.
The injury will sideline Reaves, 27, for approximately four weeks before he is reevaluated, the team said.
A gastrocnemius strain, commonly referred to as a pulled calf muscle, is caused by tears in the fibers of the main calf muscle, which can occur during any number of basketball activities, from running and jumping to cutting quickly to change directions on the court.
Reaves recently missed three games because of a mild calf strain in his left leg -- a separate injury from the one he sustained Christmas Day in the first half of the Lakers' 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets, sources told ESPN.
He had returned from the injury Tuesday and scored 17 points in 22 minutes off the bench against the Phoenix Suns.
Reaves started against Houston, though Lakers coach JJ Redick had said Reaves would remain on a minutes restriction.
Reaves scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in 15 minutes in the first half against the Rockets. Marcus Smart started the third quarter in Reaves' place.
The injury comes at an inopportune time for Reaves and the Lakers.
The fifth-year veteran had been enjoying a career season, averaging personal bests in points (26.6), assists (6.3) and rebounds (5.2), making him a candidate for his first All-Star Game.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has lost three straight games and six of its past 10, causing Redick to lambaste his team's effort after the loss to Houston.
At 19-10, the Lakers have the No. 4 record in the Western Conference.
The Lakers have 15 games between now and Jan. 26 -- the projected period of time Reaves could miss -- including matchups with some of the NBA's top teams such as the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.
