Austin Reaves described his excitement after Luke Kennard’s game-winning 3-pointer against Orlando on Saturday. “That was probably the happiest I’ve been in a long time… to knock that down with confidence and give us the win is huge,” Reaves said.
Reaves recounted his role in the final sequence, admitting the focus on his assignment almost made him miss the play. “I get so fixated on my job that I don’t even really know what happened… I ran over there, had one foot off the ground, Jalen Suggs barely touched me and I fall on accident. After that, I just seen the pass go to him and obviously made a big shot,” he explained.
The Lakers guard expressed confidence in Kennard’s ability under pressure. “Please go in. Very confident with, you know, not just him, but anybody shooting in that situation… he’s one of the best shooters in the league,” Reaves said.
He highlighted the team’s balance during the nine-game winning streak. “We’ve done it in different ways… won ugly games where we weren’t great offensively, won with our defense, and dominated some games offensively,” he said.
Reaves praised the rhythm and camaraderie that have defined the Lakers’ recent stretch. “Just getting in a rhythm, playing alongside one another, having fun and getting wins,” he said.
Saturday’s win improved Los Angeles to 46-25, keeping them third in the Western Conference, while Orlando fell to 38-32. Reaves finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, contributing key scoring and ballhandling in the fourth quarter.
Kennard’s decisive shot came with 0.6 seconds left after Marcus Smart’s inbound pass, capping a comeback from a five-point deficit. The Lakers shot 45% overall, hitting only eight of 32 from 3-point range, while the Magic converted 11 triples and 21-of-23 free throws.
Los Angeles continues their road trip Monday against the Detroit Pistons, with Orlando hosting the Indiana Pacers. Reaves emphasized the team’s confidence going forward. “Good… we’re just getting in a rhythm, playing alongside one another, having fun and getting wins,” he said.
