Austin Reaves stepped up where Luka Dončić left off.
With Dončić sidelined for at least a week due to a left finger sprain and a lower leg contusion—just days after dropping 49 points—the Lakers suddenly found themselves missing over half of their offensive output and payroll with LeBron James also sidelined.
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In his absence, Reaves rose to the occasion as the leading man, delivering a career night with 51 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists to lead Los Angeles past the Sacramento Kings, 127–120, Sunday evening to improve to 2-1.
Reaves, who joined the team in 2021 as an undrafted free agent, became just the fourth undrafted player in NBA history to score 50 points and joined elite Lakers company as only the eighth player in franchise history to make 20 or more free throws in a game, finishing an astonishing 21-of-22 from the line.
Head coach JJ Redick praised Reaves for his relentless competitiveness and drive, noting how far he’s come as an undrafted guard from a small town in Arkansas.
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“He was fantastic,” Redick said. “He did a little bit of everything for us tonight and scored the basketball at an incredible level… he just lives in the moment—he’s ready for every single one that comes. It’s a pleasure to be around him every day.”
Reaves was one of five Lakers to score in double figures, as Deandre Ayton notched his best game since joining the team with 22 points and 15 rebounds. The performance marked a statement win for a Lakers squad finding its rhythm despite missing two of its biggest stars.
The matchup featured 19 lead changes in what turned into a tightly contested, back-and-forth battle largely fueled by Reaves’ early offensive explosion. He erupted for 14 points in the second quarter alone and entered halftime with 21, carrying the Lakers through extended stretches when their offense struggled at times with him off the floor.
L.A. struggled in the non-Reaves minutes, especially after guard Gabe Vincent exited early in the first half. Vincent rolled his ankle after inadvertently stepping on Deandre Ayton’s foot and was unable to return, finishing with three points in 11 minutes. He was later seen leaving the arena in a walking boot, though postgame reports indicated that his X-rays came back negative—an encouraging sign for an already depleted Lakers roster.
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Next up, the Lakers will face the Trail Blazers on Monday for their second matchup of a back-to-back, their second of four games in the next six days.