Austin Reaves spoke out about his ejection during the Los Angeles Lakers’ surprising 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. The incident came at a crucial moment, as Reaves was ejected late in the third quarter after a brief exchange with referee Rodney Mott.
“I get the first one, obviously I approached him, I vocally said what I needed to say,” Reaves explained, via ClutchPoints. “And the second one, I was surprised. I’m walking away and as soon as I heard the whistle, I kind of knew what had happened, but felt like it was quick.”
The ejection seemed to alter the course of the game. The Hornets capitalized on the momentum shift, pulling off a stunning 22-1 run after Reaves’ exit. Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball led Charlotte to victory with a combined 56 points, including a clutch layup by Ball in the final seconds to secure the win.
Reaves, who has been one of the Lakers’ most reliable players this season, acknowledged the frustration of the moment. “I’ve been in the league for four years now and I’ve heard many, many things said to the refs from certain people and nothing to be done,” he said. “But when it’s unexpected from somebody, that’s when I guess the biggest issues happen. I got to be better. I don’t need to put myself in that position.”
The Lakers were up by 12 points late in the third quarter before Charlotte’s explosive comeback. LeBron James finished with 26 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, but missed two game-tying three-pointers in the closing moments. Reaves, who had been struggling with his shooting in the game, also missed a critical opportunity, with the Lakers failing to capitalize on crucial plays in the final seconds.
Reaves took full responsibility for the ejection, which ultimately left the Lakers without one of their key players during the game’s pivotal stretch. “It was a situation where I got frustrated, but I know I have to keep my composure,” Reaves added. “It was a tough one, but I’ll learn from it.”
While the loss snapped the Lakers’ seven-game home winning streak, the Hornets ended a 10-game losing skid with the win. Despite Reaves’ absence, the Lakers had a chance to pull off a last-minute victory, but Rui Hachimura and James missed critical shots. In the end, Charlotte held on to the lead, with Ball sealing the victory at the free-throw line.
The Lakers, who now sit at 32-21, are in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference.
