LeBron James and Anthony Davis may have been sidelined, but Austin Reaves stepped up in a big way as the Los Angeles Lakers (25-25) secured an impressive 114-105 victory over the Boston Celtics (37-12).
With James nursing a left ankle injury and Davis dealing with Achilles tendon issues and left hip spasms, the Lakers’ supporting cast finally answered the call for additional firepower.
Reaves led the charge, scoring a season-high 32 points and knocking down a career-best seven 3-pointers. D’Angelo Russell contributed 16 points, 14 assists, and eight rebounds, while Jaxson Hayes added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum scoring 23 points, Boston couldn’t bridge the gap, with the Lakers maintaining control throughout the fourth quarter.
This game marked the first instance this season where both LeBron James and Anthony Davis sat out for the Lakers. The victory, considered one of the Lakers’ best this season, reflected the team’s ability to adapt and perform in the absence of its star players.
Jarred Vanderbilt, a key contributor for the Lakers, left the game with right foot soreness in the final minute of the first half. However, his early impact, along with the stellar performance from Reaves, propelled the Lakers to a memorable win.
