The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business on the second night of a back-to-back Friday, hosting the New Orleans Pelicans less than 24 hours after suffering a tough loss to the Golden State Warriors.
While New Orleans stayed competitive for much of the game, L.A. finished strong in the second half, winning 124-108 to improve to 47-30 on the season. This victory moved them into the No. 3 seed, albeit by a slim margin, with five games remaining in the regular season.
Luka Doncic led the way with 35 points, six rebounds, and six assists, but a key storyline for the Lakers has been the continued rise of Austin Reaves, who has been sensational over the past several games.
Reaves finished with 30 points, seven assists, and knocked down six 3-pointers. Following his impressive performances against both Golden State and New Orleans, the NBA announced that the former undrafted star is now the first Lakers player in franchise history to make 15 or more 3-pointers over a two-game span.
Over his last 10 games with the Lakers, Reaves has been impressive, averaging 25.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds. He’s shooting 54% from the field, 41% from beyond the arc, and 94% from the free-throw line.
He is the first Lakers player since the legendary Kobe Bryant in 2012 to average 25+ points while shooting 50% from the field, 40% from the 3-point line, and 90% or better over any 10-game span.
Since joining the Lakers as an undrafted free agent, Reaves has consistently improved and has become one of the best third options in the NBA, alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15)
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Now, L.A. is focused on closing out the season strong over the final five games, aiming to avoid the play-in tournament and secure home-court advantage in the first, and potentially second, round of the NBA playoffs.