Austin Reaves Scores NBA Career-High 51 Points in Lakers' Win Over Kings

Austin Reaves, an undrafted fifth-year pro with the Los Angeles Lakers, has risen to national spotlight after scoring a career-high 51 points in a 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings, stepping up notably in the absence of stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Reaves revealed that his high school career high was 73 points and credited his teammates, including Luka Doncic who encouraged him to aim for 60 points, for their crucial support and court vision that helped unlock his explosive performance. Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Reaves' all-around play, leadership, and tenacity, highlighting how his energy galvanized the team during a key victory without their top players. Reaves emphasized the team effort behind his achievement, noting important contributions from teammates such as Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia, and described moments like Ayton's fourth-quarter putback dunk as pivotal. His 51-point outing also marked him as just the third undrafted player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game, and his stat line of 50+ points, 11+ rebounds, and 9 assists placed him among elite company alongside Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The Lakers' ability to win without their leading stars demonstrates depth and resilience, with Reaves emerging as a dependable and dynamic scorer on the team.