Austin Reaves put on a performance of a lifetime in the Los Angeles Lakers 124-117 win over the Indiana Pacers Saturday.
Reaves ended the game with a career-high 45 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds against the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. He also made four three-pointers and went a perfect 13-13 from the free-throw line.
This ends an eventful week that saw the Lakers go 4-0 with victories over teams like the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors. The purple and gold also traded for Luka Doncic in case you have been living under a rock for the last week.
Austin Reeves In Good Los Angeles Lakers Company
Along with having a career game personally, Reaves joins elite company after his stellar performance. The 26-year-old is the youngest Laker with 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists since Kobe Bryant in 2005. He also joins Bryant, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis as the only Laker players to score 45 or more points in the last 20 years.
The Lakers win over the Pacers showed exactly why there is a ton of excitement about this team’s chances to make a deep playoff run after trading for Doncic. The fact that the Lakers could beat a good Pacers team with James and Doncic playing is very impressive and it allowed Reaves to showcase to the world what he is capable of when he is running the offense. He has been showing that ability throughout the season alongside James as the main ball-handler for the Lakers. With Doncic’s arrival, Reaves falls to third in the pecking order.
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Since Los Angeles traded for Doncic, there has been a lot of discussion as to how James and Doncic will coexist on the court due to having a similar playstyle. James has been the main ball-handler for the majority of his career and Doncic has had one of the highest usage rates since he’s been in the league.
There will almost assuredly be growing pains, but Laker fans should not be overly concerned we’re talking about two of the highest-IQ basketball players in modern history. They will figure it out. We know those two can get their points with ease, but one of the main things that makes them special is their playmaking abilities.
The Lakers have a lot of questions to answer defensively. However, their offense with James, Doncic, and Reaves leading the way, will be one of the most lethal offenses in the league.