Austin Reaves credited team chemistry and execution after scoring 38 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 129-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at Crypto.com Arena. The win extended the Lakers’ streak to six and spoiled Anthony Davis’ first game back in Los Angeles since his trade to Dallas.
Reaves acknowledged the impact of playing alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. “Luka draws so much attention. Bron obviously… they are going to get the majority of attention, and kind of run around out there and find the open spot and make shots,” he said, reflecting on the trust and spacing that helped him succeed from deep.
The Lakers star discussed the importance of maintaining focus on regular-season wins. “You want to win the games regardless if they’re for the cup or not… it gives us opportunity to go win a couple more,” Reaves said, emphasizing the value of consistency for both players and staff.
Reaves also highlighted problem-solving during games as a key sustainable habit. “When we have runs that aren’t great, instead of breaking apart, we come together and figure it out. That’s what good teams do,” he explained, giving credit to the coaching staff for providing guidance.
The guard reflected on exchanging jerseys with Anthony Davis after the game. “He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball… for me to get his, pretty fun,” Reaves said, recalling advice from Davis to stay true to himself on the court.
Reaves’ shooting night featured six three-pointers, contributing to a combined 36 points with Doncic in the second half alone. Their scoring surge helped the Lakers turn a narrow deficit into a double-digit lead during a decisive 13-1 fourth-quarter run.
Los Angeles finished with a 59% field-goal rate and 51% from three-point range, while Dallas shot 48% overall and 44% from deep. Deandre Ayton added 17 points during the run, providing key interior scoring and defensive presence.
Looking ahead, the Lakers host New Orleans on Sunday, while the Mavericks travel to face the Los Angeles Clippers. Reaves emphasized staying focused on execution and maintaining team habits to continue their momentum in the NBA Cup and regular season.
