Los Angeles Lakers took on the Denver Nuggets on Friday night in a NBA matchup that served as a true test of their depth. Despite putting up a strong fight, the Lakers fell 131-126, extending their losing streak to four games. The loss was even more challenging as they played without their two biggest stars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. In their absence, Austin Reaves stepped up as the team’s primary option and later addressed the struggles facing the squad.
After the game, Reaves made it clear that there were no moral victories despite the team’s valiant effort, expressing frustration over the Lakers’ continued slump. “We went 0-4, so it’s a pretty bad trip,” Reaves said of the Lakers’ road stretch. “But s—, JJ [Redick] said a week ago, ‘Everybody’s saying Lakers in five.’ We just don’t listen to any of it.” (via Jovan Buha of The Athletic).
Still, Reaves remained optimistic about what the Lakers could achieve at full strength. “We know when we’re fully healthy and have everybody available, we have a really good chance to beat anybody. I see this group coming together, locking in on one common goal—and that’s to win,” he added.
Reaves delivered an exceptional performance, finishing with 37 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, and 4 steals. Rookie guard Dalton Knecht also continued his strong play, recording 32 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. Despite the Lakers’ collective effort, they couldn’t overcome Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets.
Austin Reaves joins exclusive Lakers company
Reaves reached a significant milestone in the loss, becoming just the second player in Lakers history to record at least 20 points and 10 assists in a single half. The only other player to achieve this feat? The legendary Kobe Bryant.
JJ Redick praises Austin Reaves
Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t hesitate to acknowledge Reaves’ impact and growth this season. “I think Austin has done a great job throughout his career of just figuring it out. And you don’t always figure it out in a week or a month… He’s been phenomenal this season. We have a lot of confidence in him as a player,” Redick said.
Redick also hinted at bigger plans for Reaves moving forward. “We have a lot of confidence in the duo of him and Luka together… We’ll have plenty of opportunities once we get LeBron back. Those two guys have such great synergy and chemistry. They’re incredibly intelligent players and really understand how to play off of each other.”
With James and Doncic sidelined, Reaves has taken on a larger role, proving that he can be a key contributor for the Lakers as they fight for NBA playoff positioning.