LeBron James reacted to Austin Reaves’ amazing performance following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
In 39 minutes of action, Reaves filled up the stat sheet in historic fashion. He finished with a stat line of 51 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals. He shot 12-of-22 from the field, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and an impressive 21-of-22 from the free-throw line.
The young guard made franchise history with his efforts, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel. Reaves became the 12th player in Lakers history to record 50 or more points in a game and the eighth player in team history to make 20 or more free throws in a single contest.
James reacted to his star teammate’s performance after the game on social media, praising Reaves for his excellent game against Sacramento and giving him a clear label in the process. “50 piece 🐔 nugget!!!!! That boy AR TOOOO TOUGH!!” James wrote.
### How Austin Reaves and the Lakers Played Against the Kings
With Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the sidelines, Austin Reaves embraced the top scoring option role for the Lakers. Thanks to his efforts, Los Angeles improved to a 2-1 record after taking down the Kings in a closely contested matchup.
The game went down to the wire. The Lakers led 36-27 after the first quarter, but Sacramento responded with a 35-26 second quarter, keeping the game tight at halftime. Both teams refused to give ground, but Reaves’ clutch plays in the fourth quarter ultimately secured the Lakers’ road victory.
Free throws and rebounding played key roles in this thrilling showdown between two division rivals. The Lakers excelled in both categories, making 41 out of 46 free throws and grabbing 47 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Kings converted 12 of 18 free throws and pulled down 40 rebounds.
Five Lakers players scored in double-digits, including Reaves. Deandre Ayton had his best performance to date as a Laker, posting 22 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a block. Ayton shot 10-of-17 overall and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line.
### What’s Next for the Lakers?
The Lakers will remain on the road as they prepare for their next matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 27 at 10:30 p.m. ET. With performances like Reaves’ leading the way, Los Angeles looks to continue building momentum early in the season.
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