JJ Redick addressed the media after the Lakers’ 125-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, highlighting Austin Reaves’ first game back since Christmas. “I thought he moved great and looked like Austin. He had three or four really good looks in the first half that didn’t go down, but did a nice job of attacking the basket, getting to the free throw line,” Redick said.
On the team’s rotation, Redick explained, “We just wanted to try to keep everybody’s rotation essentially the same while eating away at 20 minutes. With the way the game was going, felt like let’s get his minutes, make sure he gets his 20 minutes.” Reaves contributed 15 points in 21 minutes, sparking a dominant first-quarter stretch.
Discussing the home stretch before the All-Star break, Redick noted, “We haven’t been a great home team this year and we’ve got an opportunity over the next few weeks to play in front of our fans. After a tough stretch with travel, we’ve weathered it and have to keep our foot on the gas.” The Lakers currently hold a 30-19 record, tied for fifth in the Western Conference.
Reflecting on the team’s road trip, Redick added, “Getting healthy and having our guys available in this last stretch will be huge for us. You want to build momentum, and this was about the time last year when we started building it.” Los Angeles went 5-3 on its recent road swing.
On lineup decisions, Redick said starting Reaves in the second half wasn’t a permanent signal: “The biggest thing was prioritizing getting Austin his minutes and having Jake available to play the last 6 to 8 minutes if needed.”
Redick also addressed Reaves’ recovery from a calf injury, sharing, “Having that confidence in your body is huge. He had two plays with real bumps at the basket and he’s put in the work with conditioning and on-court work to be in a good position to have a good night.”
The Lakers relied on LeBron James and Luka Doncic for scoring and playmaking, with James posting 25 points and seven assists and Doncic adding 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Redick reflected on the team’s performance despite injuries, saying, “The season always has peaks and valleys. We’ve found some good things on both ends, and Austin’s only going to add to that.”
Bench contributors Jake LaRavia (18 points) and Deandre Ayton (eight rebounds) helped maintain the Lakers’ advantage while Brooklyn struggled with turnovers and three-point shooting. The win keeps Los Angeles in position near the top tier of the Western Conference ahead of Thursday’s matchup against Philadelphia.
