Austin Reaves Drops Career-High 51 as Shorthanded Lakers Overcome Kings
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves delivered the performance of his life, exploding for a career-high 51 points as the Lakers settled a 127- 120 win over the Sacramento Kings on 27 October 2025.
The feat came on a night when the team was missing their usual superstars, LeBron James and Luka Dončić, making the victory all the more impressive.
Reaves stepped onto the court and played as if the moment had been staying for him each one. He filled the stat distance with 11 rebounds and 9 assists, nearly grabbing a triadic-double while steering the Lakers through a game that could have slipped away.
With James sidelined due to right sciatica, Dončić nursing a finger sprain and leg contusion, and Jaxson Hayes ruled out with knee soreness, the pressure was on. Reaves didn’t flinch. He took control, calm, confident, and ruthless.
AUSTIN REAVES WITH A CAREER-HIGH 51 PTS
COOKED THE KINGS WITH NO LUKA OR LEBRON pic.twitter.com/bao7qE1gz2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 27, 2025
He started slowly, posting 7 points in the first quarter. also came the swell 14 in the alternate, 15 in the third, and another 15 in the fourth. Every pail felt heavier than the last.
From deep, he was deadly, 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. At the line, almost perfect, 21-for-22 free throws. Efficiency, composure, and confidence rolled into one.
Reaves joined an elite group, becoming the 12th player in Lakers history to reach the 50-point mark. Not bad for a man who’s frequently flown under the radar.
Despite being sidelined, Luka Dončić made sure his presence was felt, joking that he wanted Reaves to push for 60 points.
Meanwhile, Jarred Vanderbilt reportedly told Reaves before tip-off to “go for 50.”
Reaves smiled after the game; he’d done just that. “They were all pushing me,” he said. “It felt like one of those nights.”
The night wasn’t without concern. Gabe Vincent went down with an ankle injury early in the second half, leaving the bench thin. But others rose to the moment.
DeAndre Ayton put up 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura added 18 points with clinical accuracy.
Head coach JJ Redick praised the squad’s fight, saying the game highlighted their spirit. “This was about resilience,” he said. “The guys showed what they can do even without our main stars.”
Reaves’ performance carried even more weight as his fourth three-pointer of the night marked the 500th of his career, moving him up to ninth in Lakers history for made threes.
It wasn’t just a career night; it was a statement. A reminder that the Lakers’ strength runs deeper than their superstar names.
As the Lakers prepare for their upcoming season, the buzz around Reaves is impossible to ignore. suckers and pundits likewise are formerly mooting whether this was his true rout moment, the night Austin Reaves officially arrived.
