The Lakers went into Oracle Arena this past Saturday looking for a statement victory, but came up two points short, ultimately losing 117-115. But regardless of the result, there was a level of effort, chemistry, and connectivity that the team have rarely shown this season, a point that LeBron James touched on following the game.
One of the main players contributing to each of those factors — and playing arguably the best game of his professional career considering the circumstances — was rookie guard Austin Reaves. He was, as the kids say, ballin.
In the following video, I deconstructed Reaves’ best plays of the night, and the key skills underlying each of them:
This performance was yet another game and showcase for Reaves, who has gone from undrafted rookie to integral piece for this Lakers team.