Two nights after Luka Dončić came up just short of a 50-point performance, Austin Reaves made sure the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t let another historic night slip away.
With Dončić (finger, leg) and LeBron James (sciatica) both sidelined, Reaves delivered the game of his career — a career-high 51 points — to lift the Lakers to a 127-120 road win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
Reaves went 21-of-22 from the free-throw line, including four clutch makes in the final 32 seconds to seal the victory. The undrafted guard joined an elite list of Lakers legends — Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis — as the only players since 2000 to score 50 or more points in a single game.
From Trolling Luka Dončić to Making Lakers History
Reaves’ eruption came just 48 hours after he playfully trolled Dončić on social media for missing a free throw that would have given the Slovenian superstar his first 50-point game with the Lakers in Friday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“First 1!🧩,” Dončić posted on Instagram after his 49-point outing — only for Reaves to reply, “🤦🏻♂️ make a free throw.”
LeBron James joined the fun after Reaves’ 51-point night, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Damn, that’s crazy — we almost had back-to-back 50 balls. Damnit Don! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sick backcourt! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾.”
The exchange captured the camaraderie inside the Lakers’ locker room — and Reaves’ growing confidence in an expanded role.
JJ Redick: ‘He Thrives on Competition’
Head coach JJ Redick said the staff knew they would need Reaves to shoulder the scoring load without their two stars — and he delivered.
“On a night you don’t have Luka, you don’t have Bron, you don’t have Jaxson [Hayes], you know you’ve got to go out there and be big for the team,” Reaves said postgame. “It wasn’t in my head thinking you’ve got to score 50; it was, ‘Do whatever you can do to help the team win,’ and we played — not just myself but everybody — we played a hell of a game.”
Reaves nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 11 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 61 percent from the floor. According to NBA statistician Automatic, he became the first player in NBA history to post at least 50 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists with that level of efficiency.
Reaves also joined Fred VanVleet (2021) and Phil Chenier (1972) as only the third undrafted player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game.
“He was fantastic,” Redick said. “He did a little bit of everything for us — scored the basketball at an incredible level. But it’s his tenacity to compete — every single day he’s in the gym. He thrives on competition.”
Reaves’ Rise Comes at a Crucial Time for Lakers
The performance comes at a critical juncture for the Lakers, who improved to 2–1 despite missing their two franchise cornerstones. Doncic is expected to miss at least another week due to his leg and finger injuries, while James is sidelined until at least mid-November with sciatica.
Reaves’ 51-point explosion elevated him from dependable role player to bona fide go-to scorer — a vital boost for his upcoming free agency and for a team trying to stay afloat in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers will look to keep the momentum going as they host the Los Angeles Lakers Monday night before continuing their early-season road stretch, hoping their newest hero can help them weather the storm until Doncic and James return.
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