Austin Reaves hits game winner for Lakers win on Christmas
The Los Angeles Lakers won a thriller over the Golden State Warriors with an Austin Reaves game-winner. Reaves drove to the cup for a layup, leaving one second on the clock.
With no timeouts remaining, Stephen Curry hoisted a fullcourt shot that was off, solidifying the Lakers win.
Let’s break down to the keys to the Lakers victory in a game where Anthony Davis exited early.
AUSTIN REAVES CALLED GAME ON CHRISTMAS 😭🐐 pic.twitter.com/phnS2wWOln
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) December 26, 2024
Austin Reaves takeover
Austin Reaves had one of the best games of his career, finishing with his third career triple-double. Reaves had 26 points, ten rebounds, ten assists, and, of course, the game-winning layup.
Reaves all-around effort on both ends of the floor was pivotal to the win over Golden State. With Davis out, LA needed consistent offense outside of LeBron James, and Reaves brought it.
LeBron James dominance
LeBron James took over on the offensive end of the floor once Anthony Davis left with an ankle injury. James had 31 points and ten assists as he picked apart the Warriors’ defense.
James and Stephen Curry added another legendary chapter to their battles over the years. Curry had 38 points and six assists, shooting 14-24 from the field and 8-15 from three.
Curry made big plays down the stretch, but James and Reaves did enough for the Lakers to come away with the win.
The other Lakers stepping up
The other Lakers starters stepped up with Davis out. Rui Hachimura scored 18 points, pulled in four rebounds, and blocked a shot, shooting 6-12 from the floor and 5-7 from deep.
Max Christie had a solid performance, with 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Rookie guard Dalton Knecht also had a good performance, with 13 points and seven boards, shooting 5-9 from the field.
Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Christian Koloko also contributed impactful minutes, specifically on the defensive end of the floor.
The Lakers now move on to take on the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
