Austin Reaves praised the contributions of Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 108-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Delta Center.
“They’re huge. Both provided really big minutes and were very impactful to us winning that game. Without them, we probably wouldn’t have won,” Reaves said, highlighting the critical role of bench players in the fourth quarter.
Reaves noted the challenge of losing Deandre Ayton midway through the second quarter. “I haven’t been able to talk to him yet, but I’m sure he’s frustrated. We obviously missed him, but it was next man up mentality, and Maxi came in and changed the game,” he explained.
Kleber’s second-half performance drew particular praise. “I’ve given him many compliments before, but tonight he was one of the best players on the floor. The energy, effort, and plays he made were huge for us,” Reaves said.
Despite the Lakers struggling from beyond the arc, Reaves remained confident in the team’s shot creation. “We got good looks, everyone is getting involved, and it doesn’t seem like a quality issue. Eventually, the shots will start falling,” he said.
Reaves scored 22 points in the win, complementing Luka Doncic’s 33 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James’ 17 points with eight assists. Rui Hachimura added 13 points as the Lakers extended their winning streak to four games, improving to 12-4.
The Lakers led by as many as nine points before Utah rallied with a 16-2 run in the third quarter, taking a 74-69 advantage midway through the frame. Doncic’s 3-pointer sparked a 13-0 Lakers run with 6:06 remaining, giving Los Angeles a 98-85 lead that proved decisive down the stretch.
Maxi Kleber capped the win with his 1,000th career field goal, a dunk late in the fourth quarter, helping Los Angeles hold off Lauri Markkanen’s 12 fourth-quarter points and Keyonte George’s 27 points and eight assists.
The Lakers will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, while the Jazz visit Golden State on Monday.
