Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right ,drives toward the basket as Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Austin Reaves scored a career-high 38 points, LeBron James had 29 and the Los Angeles Lakers held on to beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-101 on Friday night.
The Nets, who lost 126-67 to the LA Clippers on Wednesday night in a franchise-record 59-point defeat, had a chance to win it, but D’Angelo Russell missed a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds remaining. James got the rebound as the Lakers won their second straight.
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Reaves was 13 for 23 from the floor and 8 for 8 from the foul line. His previous career high was 35 points, accomplished twice, including Dec. 31 against Cleveland. Reaves had 15 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers.
READ: NBA: Lakers’ Anthony Davis a late scratch due to plantar fasciitis
AUSTIN REAVES DROPS CAREER HIGH 38 🚨
⭐️ 38p (15 in 4Q)
⭐️ 4 threes
⭐️ 3a, 3r, 2s, 1 b
⭐️ 56.5 FG%@Lakers win a close one over Brooklyn! pic.twitter.com/4nx957afXv— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2025
Russell, traded by the Lakers to the Nets, had 19 points in his first game against his former team while Zaire Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan scored 15 apiece.
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Takeaways
Nets: Had a 49-15 advantage in bench scoring, which included three players in double figures — Russell, Evbuomwan and Jalen Wilson (11).
Lakers: Reaves and James supplied more than half of the Lakers’ points with Anthony Davis a late scratch due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Jaxson Hayes started in Davis’ place and scored six points along with nine rebounds.
READ: NBA: Lakers end 3-game skid with win over Heat
LeBron & Reaves TOOK OVER for the @Lakers in the 4Q!
🌟 Scored 25 of LAL’s 30 PTS
🌟 AR: 15 PTS (6-11 FGM)
🌟 LBJ: 10 PTS (4-4 FGM) pic.twitter.com/eb7N5HKgEW— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2025
Key moment
Reaves had an alley-oop to James on a fast break to give the Lakers a 102-95 lead with 2:32 remaining. It ended up being their last basket of the game.
Key stat
The Lakers were 12 for 19 shooting in the fourth quarter, including five 3-pointers.
Up next
Nets visit Oklahoma City on Sunday to finish a six-game trip, and Lakers play at the Los Angeles Clippers.
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