The Los Angeles Lakers fell for the second time in their conference semifinals matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dropping 125-107 on Thursday night leaves the Lakers down two games in the best-of-seven series, with nothing to show for two road games against the top-seeded Thunder.
The loss is the biggest headline as the series heads back to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3. However, despite the setback, a positive individual achievement has been noted in a largely disappointing night.
Star Reaches a Historic Milestone For Los Angeles Lakers
One Lakers star who shone in Game 2’s loss was Austin Reaves. The 27-year-old guard scored 31 points in the night even though it wasn’t enough for the win. In doing so, however, he reached a milestone crossed by only a few big-name Lakers legends.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves
The Lakers announced the news, celebrating Reaves’ playoff feat.
“500 Playoff points with the Purple and Gold,” they wrote, via their official account on X.
Reaves reached the 500-point mark when he scored his 20th point of the game in the second half. His 31 points were a team-high and he made it on 10-for-16 shooting, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, along with eight free throws made. He added two rebounds, six assists, and played 38 minutes in the loss.
It was a mighty response to his below-par performance in Game 1 when he scored only eight points in 36 minutes of action.
The milestone could have come sooner for Reaves. He missed the first four games of the Lakers’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets while recovering from a Grade 2 oblique strain. He returned in Game 5 and helped the team close out the series.
Reaves has been a steady presence for Los Angeles since entering the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2021. He now joins a select group of franchise contributors who have delivered in the postseason.
L.A. Aiming to Regroup at Home
The 500-point milestone by Reaves didn’t arrive at the best of moments. The loss in Game 2 now gives the Lakers a mountain to climb against one of the best teams in the league. With the series returning to L.A., the Lakers will have to shake off the first two games and find a way to win.
The good news is Reaves looks to be getting back his game sharpness, something that he had done all through the season before going down in early April.
Getty Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers
Home-court advantage at Crypto.com Arena offers JJ Redick’s team a chance to reset the momentum. However, the Lakers will need to address the defensive breakdowns and offensive inefficiencies that plagued them in Oklahoma City if they hope to extend the series.
The Lakers remain without Luka Doncic, who hasn’t yet been cleared for action.
However, they can rally around a talented group led by Reaves and LeBron James to fight in their two home games.
Los Angeles closed out the first-round series without two of its key contributors for several games and proved it can adapt and fight back.
Game 3 tips off Saturday night in a game that can swing momentum either way.
Lakers Drop Significant Austin Reaves Update Before Game 3 vs. Thunder