Hours before the Los Angeles Lakers were set to take on the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, they received some bad news. Luka Doncic will miss at least a week of NBA action with multiple injuries. Considering his hot start to the season, this was less than ideal, but any concerns were laid to rest in an excellent victory.
The Lakers beat the Kings 127-120. And despite the absence of Doncic and LeBron James, they had a star on the court. Austin Reaves was the first option on the night, and he absolutely went off. Reaves had 51 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists on the night, an absurd stat line. With it, he did something that Kobe Bryant last did for the franchise.
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Sunday marked the first time since Bryant that a player has scored more than 50 points while grabbing more than 10 boards and dishing out more than five dimes. It’s a shame Reaves didn’t get the triple-double; it would have made the performance even more historic.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant brings the ball up the court during the third quarter against the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images
Doncic will surely join this list soon, too. But for now, Reaves is breathing rarified air alongside arguably the greatest Laker ever. In Luka and LeBron’s continued absence, he will need to carry on performing at this level. If he does, another step forward for Reaves might truly change the game for LA.
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