The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic Sunday night, 111-105 at Crypto.com Arena. Despite once again playing without LeBron James, the Lakers got an unexpected yet masterful performance from Austin Reaves. Reaves scored a career-high 35 points off the bench.
Incredibly, it only took Reaves 14 shots to get his 35 points, going 9-for-14 from the field. He also chipped in with six rebounds and six assists in the win.
It wasn't just volume scoring for Reaves either. He also took over and showed up when it mattered most.
AUSTIN REAVES FOR THE LEAD 🔥pic.twitter.com/REV5Q9Cka5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 20, 2023
With the game tied at 103 and just over a minute left, Austin Reaves hit a pull-up mid-range jumper for the lead.
His performance left fans, particularly Lakers fans, going wild online.
AUSTIN REAVES IS THE MVP pic.twitter.com/p5BPcjPpGe
— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) March 20, 2023
Reaves will deliver us pic.twitter.com/IFxlpUfXZF
— LakeShowScoop (@LakeShowScoop) March 20, 2023
Austin Reaves saved Anthony Davis’s legacy with all due respect
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) March 20, 2023
During the course of the game, Lakers fans in attendance were even giving Reaves MVP chants. But they weren't the only ones finding an interesting angle to that. Twitter user LegendOfWinning posted “Austin Reaves just got a call that Curry almost never gets🤣🤣🤣.”
Even celebrities were impressed with Reaves' game Sunday night. Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and resident Lakers fan, Shannon Sharpe, chimed in.
Austin Reaves is the best player on the floor tonite… BOAF TMS.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) March 20, 2023
There is no argument that he was indeed the best player on the court.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 35-37 on the season. They are currently tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for ninth in the Western Conference. Amazingly, only four games separate the four-seed Phoenix Suns from the 12th seeded New Orleans Pelicans, with the Lakers between them.
There are only 10 games left in the regular season. That makes every game crucial toward at least making the play-in tournament.