Austin Reaves Shines as Lakers Secure Victory Over Celtics Despite Missing LeBron James and Anthony Davis

In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a 114-105 victory against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, even in the absence of key players LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Austin Reaves, seizing the opportunity, played a pivotal role in leading the Lakers to success.

“This is an opportunity to show the world what you can do,” expressed Reaves to reporters post-game, as reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

The 25-year-old guard showcased an impressive performance, playing for 35 minutes and contributing 32 points on 10-18 shooting, including a career-high seven made three-pointers. Reaves also secured two rebounds and dished out three assists.

James and Davis were sidelined due to separate ankle and hip injuries, raising concerns for the Lakers, who historically face challenges in the absence of their star players. Notably, in the three games Davis missed earlier in the season, the Lakers recorded a 0-3 record. Additionally, in the five games without James before Thursday’s match, the team held a 2-3 record.

Despite Reaves not reaching the anticipated breakout level following his strong performances in the 2023 playoffs, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham commended the guard’s mindset in a private discussion held on Wednesday.

With trade rumors circulating around the Lakers ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline, Reaves has been a topic of discussion. However, the reported asking price for the combo guard is notably high. Jovan Buha of The Athletic revealed on Jan. 26 that Los Angeles would only entertain trading Reaves for a “bona fide third star” like Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen.

Reaves’ recent stellar performance suggests that he could become an invaluable asset for the Lakers, potentially influencing trade talks in the coming weeks.