Austin Reaves, on his playoff debut, turned heads with an unimaginable efficiency in Recreation 1 of the sequence between the LA Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies. Reaves’ spectacular fourth quarter helped the Lakers steal home-court benefit from the Grizzlies with a 128-112 win.
After the sport, LeBron James had this to say in regards to the beforehand unheralded Reaves’ scorching evening:
“It’s not shocking to me. I knew from the primary follow that we had that he wasn’t gonna be a two-way participant for lengthy. … I’ve been across the recreation lengthy sufficient to know nice basketball IQ gamers and I do know the kind of gamers that match my recreation and I knew Austin [Reaves] could be that immediately.
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“I gotta give a number of credit score to Coach Vogel on simply throwing him into the fireplace and let him be taught on the fly and permitting him to make errors and let him play via a number of stuff. … It’s not shocking what he’s doing tonight. … I’m extraordinarily joyful for him.”
Austin Reaves was an undrafted rookie in 2021. On August 3 of that 12 months, he signed a two-way cope with the LA Lakers. A month later, the group determined to provide him a typical contract.
Within the Lakers’ horrible 2021-22 marketing campaign, the previous Oklahoma standout confirmed glimpses of what he may do. He was toasted by Laker Nation on Dec. 15 when he dropped a game-winning three-pointer towards the Dallas Mavericks.
Earlier than the Lakers ended their embarrassing season in 2022, Austin Reaves reminded basketball followers that there was extra to come back. He accomplished the primary triple-double of his profession in LA’s 146-141 extra time win over the Denver Nuggets.
Reaves had a then career-high 31 factors, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Additionally learn: Watch: LA Lakers locker room offers rookie Austin Reaves a hero’s welcome after OT winner towards Dallas Mavericks
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura had been the heroes within the LA Lakers’ essential Recreation 1 win over the Memphis Grizzlies
The LA Lakers had LeBron James and Anthony Davis wholesome, nevertheless it was Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves who made the most important impression. Hachimura scored a team-high 29 factors in half-hour off the bench. The Japanese basketball star made 11-14 field-goal makes an attempt, together with 5-6 from behind the arc.
Hachimura’s 21 factors, the place he missed solely one in every of 9 photographs within the second half, had been essential. His 4 third-quarter three-pointers stored the Grizzlies at bay and was a pest on protection.
Over his final 4 video games, which had been all essential for the Lakers, Rui Hachimura has averaged 16.0 factors, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He’s hitting 54.5% of his photographs, together with 44.4% from behind the arc.
Austin Reaves, then again, made a number of clutch baskets in the previous couple of minutes of the sport. He scored 9 straight factors to snuff out the Memphis Grizzlies’ determined push to tie and probably win the sport.
Reaves is now not unheralded. He shouted “I am Him” on the boisterously hostile crowd after scoring on a fadeaway leap shot.
Additionally learn: Austin Reaves was misplaced for phrases after getting huge appreciation from LeBron James: “Stuff like meaning loads to me”
