Austin Reaves Drops 38 as Lakers Outlast D’Angelo Russell and Nets in Thrilling Finish

The time had come for the Lakers to make a decision.

Since acquiring D’Angelo Russell and pairing him with Austin Reaves, the two guards had shared the spotlight alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Their roles—touches, shots, and responsibilities—were typically divided between them.

However, over the course of this season, that dynamic began to shift. Russell transitioned to a bench role, with Reaves emerging as the primary ballhandler. A trade with Brooklyn in December solidified the change—Reaves was now firmly positioned as the Lakers' focal point.

He’s in his process, and he’s taking full advantage of the opportunity, James said. Literally running with it. I love seeing him showcase his talent alongside the best players in the world. Every night, he proves he belongs. It’s a beautiful thing.

Friday's game, while not aesthetically pleasing, was nonetheless crucial. In Russell’s first game back in Los Angeles since being traded to the Nets, Reaves scored a career-high 38 points, leading the Lakers to a 102-101 victory.

Russell had a chance to win the game with a three-pointer after Reaves missed several shots in the final minutes, but his attempt didn’t go in.

Though Reaves and James sparked the Lakers in the fourth quarter, the game was far from easy, and they recognized early on that something was off. After sinking a three-pointer to close the first quarter, James backed away from midcourt and gestured for the crowd to show more energy. The audience, having witnessed a lackluster first period, eventually responded.

The Lakers (22-17) struggled against a Nets team that had just suffered a 59-point loss to the Clippers. The crowd only became energized when it seemed the Lakers might actually lose.

Coach JJ Redick voiced his frustration with the team’s effort, especially defensively.

We weren’t very good tonight, he said. However, James and Reaves combined to score 25 of the Lakers' 30 points in the fourth quarter.

JJ wasn’t happy on the sideline—y’all could guess why. We weren’t playing well, so his frustration was warranted, Reaves explained. Bron and I had a conversation at center court: ‘Let’s just figure out a way to win.’ We knew it wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win, no matter if it’s by one or sixty.

The Lakers were again without Dorian Finney-Smith, who was absent due to the birth of his child. They also learned shortly before the game that Davis wouldn’t play due to ongoing foot issues that have kept him on the injury report for most of the past month. Despite being listed as probable with plantar fasciitis, Davis was ultimately downgraded to out after his pregame workout.

Yet, the absence of Davis and Finney-Smith was no excuse.

Brooklyn, too, was shorthanded, missing its leading scorers, Cam Thomas and Cameron Johnson. Johnson, expected to be a sought-after player before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, has been the subject of trade talks, with the Lakers reportedly in discussions with the Nets. The asking price for the 6-foot-8 forward, who averages 19.6 points and shoots 42.8% from three, is believed to be two first-round picks—a steep cost, though that price could decrease as the deadline approaches.

The Lakers won’t need to make a trade before their next game, as they expect to have both Finney-Smith and Davis back when they face the Clippers on Sunday at the Intuit Dome, marking the first time the city rivalry will be contested in the new venue.