Austin Reaves’ Career-High 38 Leads Lakers to win
The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Brooklyn Nets 102-101, with Austin Reaves leading the way, scoring a career-high 38 points on 13-of-23 shooting, along with three assists and two steals. Reaves’ cerebral play and timely shot-making were key in the Lakers holding off Brooklyn’s push.
LeBron James also had a standout performance in the absence of Anthony Davis, who missed the game due to injury. James posted 29 points on an efficient 12-of-17 shooting, providing the offensive spark the Lakers needed when the game was in the balance.
SHOW SOME LOVE FOR AUSTIN REAVES 💛💜 pic.twitter.com/RmIUo2Loew
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 18, 2025
Gabe Vincent’s Defensive Spark and 10 Key Points
Gabe Vincent was another key contributor, adding 10 much-needed points along with two steals and two blocks. His defensive presence and timely scoring were essential in maintaining the Lakers’ lead and preventing the Nets from stealing the game.
Jaxson Hayes Fills In Well for AD, But Needs to Improve Ball Security
In the absence of Anthony Davis, Jaxson Hayes stepped in as the starting center and held his own. While he didn’t put up gaudy numbers, Hayes performed admirably for what was asked of him, contributing solid defense and rebounding.
The Lakers are 2-1 in games he has started this season, which is a positive sign. However, Hayes continues to struggle with ball security. While he finished the game with only one turnover, several of his passes were deflected, which could have easily turned into turnovers.
Hayes has to be more mindful of his decision-making in these situations, especially when making longer passes, to avoid putting the ball in jeopardy.
Dalton Knecht and Max Christie Struggle Offensively
Despite the victory, there were concerns with the performance of two young players. Dalton Knecht’s shooting woes continued, as he went 0-for-4, contributing just 2 points—all coming from the free-throw line.
Knecht’s inability to get involved offensively remained a challenge for the Lakers, especially in a game where the team needed scoring depth.
Max Christie also had an off night, shooting an abysmal 2-of-13 from the field over 33 minutes of play. Twelve of those attempts came in the first half, yet Christie struggled to find any rhythm despite his usual defensive contributions.
The Lakers will need more from Knecht and Christie, especially as they seek to strengthen their bench scoring.
A Disappointing Win Against a Weaker Opponent
Although the Lakers secured the win, this was not the dominant performance they should have had. The Brooklyn Nets were coming off a 59-point loss to the Clippers, and the Lakers missed an opportunity to send a statement.
The team has a troubling tendency to play down to their competition, and this game was a perfect example. We’ve seen it time and again, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis forced to play 38+ minutes against bottom-tier teams simply because of lackluster effort and inconsistent bench scoring.
Lakers Aren’t Ready to Compete—Pressure Mounts on Rob Pelinka
This win only highlights a larger issue with the Lakers: they aren’t ready to truly compete at the highest level yet.
The lack of effort and inconsistent performances against weaker teams are concerning, and it’s becoming clear that the window for LeBron and Davis to win another championship is quickly closing.
The pressure now falls on Rob Pelinka to make the necessary moves to ensure that this team is in championship contention before another window slips away.
Key Takeaways
The Lakers’ inability to close out a weaker team like the Nets highlights areas for improvement. While Reaves and LeBron were outstanding, the bench’s lack of consistency—particularly from Knecht and Christie—could hurt the Lakers in tighter matchups.
What’s Next?
The Lakers will need to address their offensive struggles, especially from their younger players. A more balanced effort is required as they move forward, with everyone needing to step up.
