With LeBron James watching and Anthony Davis struggling, Austin Reaves finishes with a career-high 35 points in the Lakers’ 111-105 win over the Magic.
LeBron James sat back in the far chair on the Lakers’ bench, dressed in all black with sunglasses to match when a tight grin crossed his face.
The crowd was suddenly at its most alive, chanting “M-V-P, M-V-P.”
It wasn’t for James — the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — who was sidelined and forced to watch with his hands folded and legs crossed. It wasn’t for Anthony Davis, still out of rhythm after a tough loss days earlier.
No, the most valuable player, at least Sunday, was Austin Reaves.
“That was him being his normal self,” coach Darvin Ham said. “… He was great.”
Then it happened again, again and again and again — one roar after Reaves’ free throw rolled around the rim and in and another as he iced the game from the line.
He scored 35 points, a career high for the second-year player the Lakers signed as an undrafted free agent, in leading the Lakers to a 111-105 win against the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena.
The win stopped the Lakers’ first losing streak since newcomers D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt have been available to play.
Sunday marked three weeks since James suffered a foot injury in Dallas, an injury that threatened to unravel the Lakers season.
