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HomeSPORTSAustin Reaves returns with 15 points in Lakers' rout of Nets

Austin Reaves returns with 15 points in Lakers’ rout of Nets


It had been just about 5 1/2 weeks since Austin Reaves last played for the Lakers, a total of 19 games he was out because of a left calf strain, an injury he and the Lakers were being cautious about until he was ready to play against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

Reaves was on a minutes restriction, but at least he was playing for the first time since getting injured against the Houston Rockets on Christmas night.

He came off the bench and entered the game with 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the first quarter with the Lakers holding a 17-point lead that grew to 39 points in L.A.’s 125-109 win over the Nets.

Reaves scored his first points on two free throws with 1.7 seconds left in the first quarter, threw his first assist to LeBron James for a lob dunk in the second quarter and scored his first field goal with 9:38 left in the second quarter.

Reaves, who started the second half, finished his night with 15 points, one assist and four rebounds in 21 minutes.

“I wanted to make sure I was 100% good,” Reaves said. “Really wanted to play the other night against the Knicks. Love playing there. Wish I could have been able to get out there and help the team, but just didn’t feel right and woke up this morning and felt really good and gave it the go right before the game and had fun.”

His two running mates, Luka Doncic and James, were the real showmen the fans inside Barclays Center came to see.

And they didn’t disappoint, the two putting on a show that had the fans cheering in a game that got out of hand quickly and that helped the Lakers finish their eight-game trip with a 5-3 record.

Doncic had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists, including a no-look pass to Deandre Ayton for a dunk, while James had 25 points, seven assists and several dunks that the fans seemed to appreciate from their roars.

Like the rest of his teammates, James was happy to have Reaves back.

“For as long as he has been out, obviously the No. 1 thing is rhythm and fatigue, how fast you get fatigued,” James said. “So, it’s just a boost for all of us, especially at the end of a road trip, to get a guy like that back…Obviously his rhythm is a little off but he still made an impact and just happy to have him back.”

In 23 games this season, Reaves is averaging career highs in points (26.6), assists (6.3) and rebounds (5.2). Reaves is shooting 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.

Reaves was playing at an All-Star level during that span.

But his touch was expectedly a little off against the Nets. Reaves was three for nine from the field and one for five from three-point range. But he did make eight of 10 from the free-throw line.

“It felt good,” Reaves said. “I’ve been bored for a little over a month now. Sitting on the bench sucks. I think all I did for the month-and-a-half was yell at the refs. It’s no fun. It’s better to yell at them on the court. But it’s good to be back out there and run around, feel the energy and play the game I love.”

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at noon PST. It has been quiet on the Lakers’ front as far as any trades, but they still have time to make a move or just sit tight with this group, especially now that they are whole with Reaves back.

LeBron James reacts after dunking the ball in the second quarter against Brooklyn.

(Ishika Samant / Getty Images)

“We talked about it a couple of weeks ago,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Just the nature of not just being an NBA player this time of year but also being a Laker this time of the year. I can’t control what apps they have on their phones and what they decide to query. So, as a player myself, when I thought there was a chance I might be on the trade block, I just talked to my agent. He tried to tell me the truth and keep me updated.”

The Lakers completed their eight-game trip with a 5-3 record.

They started this in Denver, played at the Clippers, at Dallas, at Chicago, at Cleveland, at New York and Tuesday night at Brooklyn.

“We wanted to finish off this road trip the right way,” James said. “It was an eight-game road trip, went 5-3. Had some games that we felt like we could have won. We could have had a better record. But at the end of the day, you play the game that’s in front of you and we did that.”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

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