In an exciting Thursday night showdown, Austin Reaves didn’t hold back in his playful banter with LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The standout moment came during a walk-off interview when Reaves, excited about the win, shouted, “40 ball! Old ass!”
The comment was aimed at James, who had just scored 40 points, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to reach such a feat at the age of 40. James was instrumental in the Lakers’ fourth-quarter surge, scoring eight consecutive points to help them pull away from the Blazers.
Reaves also had a fantastic performance, contributing 32 points. His sharp play, including a timely scoop shot, kept the Lakers ahead after Portland had tied the game at 81. James took over from there, hitting two three-pointers in quick succession to push the Lakers’ lead to 89-81.
Despite the Blazers’ efforts, led by Deni Avdija with 28 points, the Lakers were able to close out the game with a strong finish.
Notably, the Lakers were without Luka Doncic, who missed the game as he continues his recovery from a strained calf.
The victory brings the Lakers to a 33-21 record, solidifying their position as the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Portland’s struggles continued as they fell to 23-33, sitting in 13th place.
After Portland tied the game in the fourth, Reaves stepped up with key plays, while James’ dominance in the final minutes made it clear that even at 40, he’s still one of the league’s most dangerous players.
