Austin Reaves praised Luka Doncic’s ability to take over games and explained why the Los Angeles Lakers trust their superstar to make the right decisions after his 52-point performance in Sunday’s 132-123 comeback win over the Utah Jazz.
Doncic scored 52 points, hit eight three-pointers and recorded 10 assists as the Lakers overcame an 18-point second-quarter deficit to improve to 3-0. Reaves added 29 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Asked about playing alongside Doncic when he gets into the rhythm described by head coach JJ Redick as “showman mode,” Reaves offered a simple assessment.
“Always. It’s always in showman mode,” Reaves said. “I think he’s always ready to get a bucket.”
Reaves said the team benefits from allowing Doncic to play his game and trusting him to create opportunities for himself or his teammates.
“Once he gets in the mode that he was in, it’s just give him the ball and, you know, he’s either going to put the ball in the basket or he’s going to make the right play,” Reaves said.
That approach proved effective late in the fourth quarter. Doncic finished a 14-5 run with consecutive three-pointers to give Los Angeles a 127-121 lead with 1:42 remaining. Reaves also hit a key shot after Doncic attracted the defense and found him open.
“He threw it to me, and I was open,” Reaves said. “Shot it with confidence, made it.”
Reaves also discussed his conversations with Redick about patience and making the right decisions rather than forcing shots. The guard emphasized that the principle was instilled in him by his family.
“First of all, I’ve had a conversation with JJ about everything under the sun, and so, yeah, we’ve had a conversation,” Reaves said. “But it’s just make the right play. It’s simple.”
He added that the Lakers’ willingness to accept different responsibilities has helped establish a team-first approach.
“My parents and my brother taught me growing up was if you play the game the right way, the game’s going to reward you,” Reaves said.
“I think the beautiful thing about our team is there’s no egos. You just want to win basketball games, and however that happens, that is the main thing.”
Reaves also credited the Lakers’ defensive response for turning the game around after Utah scored 47 points in the first quarter.
“Just playing the game the right way and getting stops, getting defensive rebounds,” he said. “I think we gave up a lot in the first quarter, just holding them to one shot and then getting out and running.”
The Lakers will look to extend their unbeaten start when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
