Austin Reaves needs to step up his game or the Lakers have no chance

Austin Reaves sat by his locker with his feet in an ice bucket. He stared at the ground and spoke in hushed tones. 

The Lakers desperately needed him to have a scoring explosion in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Thunder, but he had a disappearing act in their 108-90 loss. 

Hillbilly Kobe was gone for the hills. 

He shot 3-for-16 from the field. He was 0-for-5 from beyond the 3-point line. He finished with just eight points.

This was the Lakers’ chance to steal a game against the Thunder. 

They were rusty after not playing for eight days. They were weakened without Jalen Williams, who was sidelined for Game 1 because of a hamstring strain. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a completely uncharacteristic 18 points and seven turnovers, his fewest points and most turnovers this season.  

The reigning champions were vulnerable. 

But AR-15 wasn’t a weapon. 

He was a liability.  

The Lakers were already without Luka Doncic and his 33.5 points a game. Reaves having a good game wasn’t optional. It was essential. 

The Lakers were playing against the top-rated defense in the NBA. They needed the version of Reaves who had a breakthrough season. The version of him who looked like an All-Star. The version of him who could sign a maximum contract extension with LA. 

Instead, he shot 18.8% from the field.

It was the worst field goal percentage by any Laker who had at least 15 shot attempts in a playoff game over the last 35 years, per ESPN Insights.

“I got to get my spots multiple times and just missed a couple of easy shots,” Reaves said.

Reaves, who averaged a career-high 23.3 points on 49 percent shooting this season, is still trying to find his rhythm after returning April 29 from a strained oblique he suffered April 2. 

This was only his third game back from the injury. 

But still, the Lakers needed so much more from him.

Reaves is a rising star. He was the Lakers’ second option on offense this season, ahead of LeBron James who’s arguably the greatest player of all-time. He’s going to be eligible for a contract worth a quarter of a billion dollars with the Lakers this summer.  

He deserves to be held to star standards. 

And he really didn’t cut it in Game 1. 

James, who had a game-high 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting and six assists, was quick to come to his teammate’s defense. 

“He was out a month,” James said, repeating that same sentence again for emphasis. “…Obviously we’re trying to fast-track him getting back on the floor and doing the things that he was doing before the injury. But he’s out a month.”

Reaves rejected that excuse. 

“Nobody cares about that,” he said. “I got to go out there and play better.”

This much is for sure: Reaves is likely playing through pain. He’s showing heart.

But against the Thunder, participation awards don’t matter. Everyone on the court needs to be great. Everyone needs to be at their best.

Instead, Reaves was ice cold. So was Luke Kennard, who shot 1-for-4 from the field. The Lakers were outshot from beyond the arc, 43.3% to 33.3%.

You know who the Lakers really could’ve used in Game 1?

Doncic, who remains sidelined indefinitely because of a strained hamstring he suffered April 2. He sat silently in the Lakers’ locker room after the game, wearing all black. 

He dressed appropriately for the Lakers’ funeral.

“When you play against the world champions and [miss] having a guy that averages 34 [points] and eight [rebounds] and nine [assists] and is that special, that’s [tough].”

Tuesday was a double-whammy. The Lakers weren’t just missing Doncic. They were missing Reaves too, even though he was physically on the court. 

Reaves has struggled the last two postseasons. 

In 2024, he shot just 26.9%.from deep. In 2025, he averaged a postseason career-low 16.2 points on 41.1% shooting from the field and 31.9% from beyond the arc while playing through a sprained toe.

So far these playoffs, he’s shooting 2-for-17 from the 3-point line (11.7%).

It’s a shame because he had such a great season.

It’s a bummer because we know what he’s capable of doing.

It’s tough to witness because his disappointment is so palpable.

But Lakers coach JJ Redick isn’t worried.

“He didn’t play well,” Redick said. “But he’s going to bounce back. He’s a great player.”

For the Lakers’ sake, they better hope he finds his rhythm fast.

Reaves is paramount to the Lakers this series.

They simply have no chance unless he’s at his best.

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