Austin Reaves Scores 38, Lakers Defeat Nets

Austin Reaves led the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 102-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, scoring a career-high 38 points. His performance was pivotal as he took on a larger role following D'Angelo Russell's trade to the Nets, effectively becoming the team's primary ballhandler. LeBron James also contributed significantly with 29 points, while the Lakers managed to secure the win despite the absence of Anthony Davis due to plantar fasciitis. Reaves' recent play has drawn praise from head coach JJ Redick, who noted that he is adjusting to increased defensive attention and has maintained impressive averages since assuming his new role. Reaves has been averaging nearly 19 points and over 8 assists in the games following the trade. The Lakers' victory came amidst a challenging stretch of games, improving their record to 2-1 in a six-game homestand.