Lakers Edge Nets 102-101 as Reaves Shines/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Austin Reaves set a career-high with 38 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 102-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. LeBron James contributed 29 points as the Lakers overcame the absence of Anthony Davis due to injury. The Nets had a chance to win, but D’Angelo Russell’s final 3-point attempt missed.
Reaves’ Career Night Powers Lakers Past Nets: Quick Looks
- Reaves’ Big Game: Scored 38 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter.
- LeBron’s Impact: Added 29 points, including the final rebound.
- Key Play: Reaves assisted an alley-oop to James for a 102-95 lead late.
- Nets’ Bench Strength: Outscored Lakers’ bench 49-15, led by D’Angelo Russell’s 19 points.
- Davis Absent: Anthony Davis missed the game due to plantar fasciitis.
- Critical Miss: Russell’s 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left fell short.
Lakers Edge Nets 102-101 as Reaves Shines
Deep Look
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a nail-biting 102-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, thanks to Austin Reaves’ career-high 38 points. Reaves was unstoppable, shooting 13-of-23 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.
LeBron James provided crucial support with 29 points, including a critical rebound after D’Angelo Russell missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds remaining. The Lakers earned their second consecutive victory despite missing Anthony Davis, who was sidelined with plantar fasciitis.
Reaves’ Stellar Performance
Reaves took center stage with an electrifying performance, especially in the fourth quarter where he scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers. His standout moment came with 2:32 left on the clock when he executed a perfect alley-oop to LeBron James, giving the Lakers a 102-95 lead. It would ultimately be their final basket of the game.
The 38-point outing broke his previous career-high of 35, achieved twice, most recently on Dec. 31 against Cleveland.
Nets’ Resilience
The Nets, fresh off a franchise-worst 59-point loss to the Clippers, showed resilience in Friday’s game. They leaned heavily on their bench, which outscored the Lakers’ reserves 49-15. D’Angelo Russell led Brooklyn with 19 points in his first game against his former team, while Zaire Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan each added 15 points.
Despite their strong bench performance, the Nets fell short when Russell’s final 3-point attempt missed the mark.
Supporting Cast
The Lakers managed without Anthony Davis, relying on contributions from Jaxson Hayes, who stepped into the starting lineup. Hayes chipped in with six points and nine rebounds, while Reaves and James combined for more than half of the team’s total points.
Key Stats
- The Lakers shot 12-of-19 in the fourth quarter, including five 3-pointers.
- Brooklyn dominated in bench scoring, but their late-game execution fell short.
What’s Next
- Nets: Wrap up their six-game road trip with a visit to Oklahoma City on Sunday.
- Lakers: Face the Clippers in an intercity showdown.
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