Austin Reaves is having the best season of his NBA career. In his fourth season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Reaves is averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category. Reaves, 26, has proven all the doubters wrong early in his career after going undrafted out of the University of Oklahoma.
Reaves’ 19.6 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.6 made 3-pointers per game are all career highs, and his play is a big reason why the Lakers sit in fourth place in the Western Conference, just one game back of second place.
The Lakers have now won two straight games, and will welcome the Denver Nuggets to town in their next game on Wednesday. Given that the Lakers have been eliminated by the Nuggets in each of the past two playoffs, Reaves was asked if this matchup carries any extra weight. Reaves responded immediately, sending the Nuggets a strong message.
Obviously, they’ve kicked our asses the past couple postseasons, and we want to return the favor, but you want to beat everybody you play,” Reaves said.
Clearly, Reaves would love to even the regular-season-series against the Nuggets on Wednesday (the Nuggets lead 2-1). With just 15 games remaining for the Lakers, every game is imperative for playoff seeding. The Lakers currently sit just one game back of the Nuggets.
With LeBron James still out of the lineup nursing a groin injury, Reaves has taken control of a large portion of the offense alongside Luka Doncic. In his last four games, Reaves is averaging 30.8 points, 7.0 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.3 made 3-pointers per game.
Reaves will remain in his current role with the starting lineup, as James is expected to miss at least one more week per reports. Wednesday’s game is the last meeting between the Lakers and Nuggets in the regular season.
