With the 2025-26 NBA season in full swing, the Los Angeles Lakers are already dealing with a plague of injuries to their star players. LeBron James has been sidelined indefinitely to start his 23rd year with persistent sciatica, and on Sunday, Luka Doncic, the team’s newly anointed offensive anchor, was ruled out due to a left finger sprain and leg contusion. Short-handed and searching for a spark, the Lakers needed an engine. Instead, they got an explosion.
Reaves Rises In Sacramento
Going into this season, many considered Austin Reaves the most overqualified third option in the league. The undrafted guard from Arkansas was a gem pickup for the Lakers in 2021 and has only developed in his role since. With a depleted roster, once the ball was tipped against the Sacramento Kings this past Sunday, his role was to take over. He did just that, recording a career-high 51 points.
The baskets came easily; he got to the rim at ease, knocked down 21 free throws, and hit an abundance of threes that silenced the opposing crowd. He finished one assist shy of a triple-double and led the Lakers to a crucial 127-120 victory. And in the final seconds, he converted multiple clutch free throws to ice the game. It was methodical, not flashy. It was a takeover.
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Two-Game Statement
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Less than 24 hours later, against the Portland Trail Blazers, the question was whether he could do it again. Portland’s young squad played high-pressure, aggressive defense that forced the Lakers into 23 turnovers. Reaves, although turnover-heavy, showed similar ease in scoring as the previous night.
He scored 41 points on efficient shooting, pushing his two-game total to an astounding 92 points. His scoring outbursts over the last two games put him in elite company, becoming one of just six players in franchise history to top 90 points across a two-game stretch.
The short-handed Lakers ultimately fell 122-108. Postgame, head coach JJ Redick praised Reaves for his vocal leadership and active presence in huddles.
The Third Act
Tonight, the Lakers face a hungry Minnesota Timberwolves team again without the help of James and Doncic. What was thought to be a temporary adjustment has now become a test of endurance and identity.
In just two games, Reaves has gone from a complementary piece to the heartbeat of an undermanned roster. The question isn’t whether he can carry the load — he’s already shown that. Now it’s about whether this breakout is a hot streak or the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
If tonight’s performance against Minnesota follows the script of the last two games, the league might need to start viewing Austin Reaves not as a role player stepping up but as a legitimate star stepping forward.
