Austin Reaves led the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 127-120 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, delivering a career-high performance that electrified fans and teammates alike.
With stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic sidelined due to injuries, Reaves took full control of the Lakers’ offense. He exploded for a career-best 51 points, narrowly missing a triple-double by adding 11 rebounds and nine assists. His all-around game included two steals, shooting an efficient 12-of-22 from the field, 6-of-10 from three-point range, and an impressive 21-of-22 from the free-throw line. This outstanding free-throw accuracy places him in elite company alongside Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Reaves’ 51-point outburst tops his previous high of 45 points, which he set against the Indiana Pacers last February. This milestone makes him just the 12th player in Lakers history to score 50 or more points in a single game and the eighth in franchise history to convert 20 or more free throws in one contest. He now joins a prestigious list of modern-era Lakers to reach the 50-point mark, including legends Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
The game itself was tightly contested. Los Angeles trailed 101-97 midway through the fourth quarter after a Domantas Sabonis three-pointer. However, Reaves sparked a pivotal 20-5 run with a trio of clutch three-pointers, propelling the Lakers to an 11-point lead late in the game—an advantage Sacramento could not overcome.
Five Lakers finished in double figures, but Reaves was the standout, especially from the free-throw line, where he converted 21-of-22 attempts. The Lakers dominated the boards, outrebounding the Kings 47-40. Despite Sacramento’s strong outside shooting—outscoring Los Angeles 54-24 from beyond the arc—Reaves’ offensive mastery and timely scoring ultimately sealed the victory.
For Sacramento, Zach LaVine led the charge with 32 points, while DeMar DeRozan added 21 points and six rebounds.
Reaves’ spectacular performance earned high praise from LeBron James, who celebrated it on social media, calling Reaves “TOOO TOUGH!!”
With the win, the Lakers improve to 2-1 on the season. They will continue their road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, facing a quick turnaround with no days off. Once again, Reaves is expected to carry the bulk of the scoring load as the team copes without James and Doncic.
This career night firmly establishes Austin Reaves as a rising star and a critical piece of the Lakers’ future success.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-joins-ex-mvps-exclusive-all-time-club
