Getty
Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled in their last 2 games.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the LA Clippers 125-122 on Friday night.
Head coach JJ Redick singled out one play that defined the game. It was not a three-pointer. Not a dunk either. It was a charge drawn by Austin Reaves with less than two minutes remaining and the Lakers clinging to a three-point lead.
What Redick Said About the Play
GettyLos Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
Reaves took a hit from Bennedict Mathurin as the Clippers guard attacked the basket trailing 118-115.
The call went in favor of the Lakers. Reaves drew the charge and gave his team breathing room. Redick called it the play of the game after the win.
“I thought the charge was the play of the game,” Redick said. “Frankly, the second charge would have been the play of the game if they made the right call, which they didn’t. That was a huge play given the circumstances.”
Reaves had attempted to draw another charge moments later that was not called. Redick clearly believed that one should have gone the Lakers’ way as well. But the first charge stood as the defining defensive play in a game that came down to the final possession.
The Clippers had one last chance to tie after a late Lakers turnover. Nicolas Batum missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, and the Lakers escaped with the win.
How Reaves Performed in His Return
GettyAustin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers.
Friday marked Reaves’ first game back in the starting lineup since returning from a calf injury.
He had been coming off the bench under a minutes restriction. Redick announced Thursday that the restriction was being lifted. Reaves responded with 29 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 33 minutes. He shot 9-of-15 from the field, 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
“He was fantastic tonight,” Redick said. “Other than the two turnovers there, and the third in traffic, he just played a super efficient night.”
Reaves is averaging 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game this season. He was on pace to make his first All-Star appearance before the calf injury derailed that opportunity. But his production since returning suggests he is still playing at an elite level.
The charge he drew late in the game showed another dimension of his value. Reaves is not just a scorer. He makes winning plays on both ends of the floor. Drawing charges in critical moments is the type of effort that defines close games.
Final Word for the Lakers
JJ Redick identified Austin Reaves’ charge as the play of the game.
It was not the most glamorous play. But it was the most important. The Lakers needed a stop with less than two minutes remaining. Reaves gave them one by taking a hit and drawing the offensive foul.
Reaves finished with 29 points in his first start since returning from injury. His offensive performance was impressive. But Redick made it clear that the defensive play mattered more.
The Lakers improved to 34-21 and hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Reaves has been a major reason for their success this season. Friday’s performance showed why.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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