The Los Angeles Lakers won a dramatic encounter with the Indiana Pacers with a last gasp tip-in from LeBron James.
Luka Doncic admitted to being relieved when LeBron James tipped in his missed shot with less than a second to go of the Lakers’ win in Indiana.
The late bucket sealed a 120-119 win for the LA Lakers, snapping the Pacers’ five-game win streak, and their own three game losing run.
Rick Carlisle admitted making a mistake with his time management, but it is also worth commending the stars who lit up the game.
While Tyrese Haliburton was a driving force for the home team with 18 assists, Luka Doncic led on the night with 34 points, complemented by Austin Reaves‘ brilliance with 24.
Speaking on SportsCenter following the dramatic late win, Kendrick Perkins was of the view that Austin Reaves is the LA Lakers’ real driving force right now.
Even though it was Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for the late game winner, Reaves’ 24-4-5 was vital, especially on a low-scoring night for LeBron.
Perkins began:” “He put on a clinic, that’s what Luka does, Rui Hachimura put some big threes in the fourth quarter, but Austin Reaves was the X-factor, and he’s going to be the X-factor for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“It’s the trust that JJ Redick, LeBron James and Luka Doncic has in him. I thought when he took over in the second quarter when the Lakers went on that run, LeBron James took a backseat and Austin Reaves went to work.”
Reaves’ has been growing in stature through this season, putting up career best figures.
His 24 points against the Pacers came amid an ineffective shooting night from outside the arc, where he went just 1-8 from three point range.
Perkins admits he does not know quite how to describe Reaves, yet appreciates his output.
He continued: “I’m torn, because he’s too good for me to call him a role player, but he’s not a star yet.
“He’s an in-between guy, but if the Lakers are going to make a deep run in the post-season, it’s going to be because of games like this behind Austin Reaves.”
Austin Reaves is the LA Lakers’ third star, really ascending in profile this season. His career best performance came against the Indiana Pacers in the previous game in February, when he put up 45 points.
His second, third, and fourth highest scoring games have all come this season too, 38, 37 and a 35 equalling a previous best from 2023.
Reaves has been attracting a lot of praise this season, with former star Derek Fisher recently commending his performances.
Luka Doncic recently admitted to being dumbfounded that Austin Reaves went undrafted, and the blossoming star has been putting up impressive numbers comparable to Magic Johnson’s first four seasons on the Lakers.
