LeBron, Reaves, and a Red-Hot Start Power Lakers Past Nets in Blowout Win
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just beat the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night - they overwhelmed them. From the opening tip, it was clear which team came ready to play, and the Lakers wasted no time flexing their offensive muscle in a 125-109 win that wasn’t nearly as close as the score suggests.
LeBron James led the way with 25 points, while Luka Dončić chipped in 24. But the biggest storyline of the night?
The return of Austin Reaves, who hadn’t played since Christmas due to a strained left calf. After missing 19 games, Reaves looked more than ready to rejoin the fray, putting up 15 points in just 21 minutes and reminding everyone why he was averaging 26.6 points before the injury.
Reaves checked in late in the first quarter - by then, the Lakers were already rolling. They opened the game on a blistering 20-for-25 shooting tear, hitting 15 of their first 18 shots (that’s an eye-popping 83.3%) and racing out to a 45-23 lead after one. The ball was moving, the floor was spaced, and the Lakers looked like a team with purpose - and finally, with their full complement of weapons.
LeBron wasted no time setting the tone in the second quarter, scoring through contact on the Lakers’ first possession. Moments later, Reaves missed back-to-back threes but made up for it with a savvy steal and a highlight-reel assist - tossing the ball off the backboard for LeBron to hammer home a thunderous dunk.
Not long after, James picked off a pass himself and threw down another slam, pushing the score to 57-28. At that point, the Lakers had hit 20 of their first 25 shots, and the rout was on.
By halftime, the lead had ballooned to 69-40, and the game was effectively over.
Jake LaRavia added 18 points off the bench, giving the Lakers another boost as they wrapped up a solid 5-3 road trip. With the NBA trade deadline looming just hours before their next game - a home matchup against the 76ers on Thursday - the Lakers are starting to look like a team finding its rhythm at the right time.
As for Brooklyn, it was another rough night in what’s becoming a brutal stretch. The Nets were coming off a 53-point loss to Detroit on Sunday, and Tuesday didn’t offer much redemption.
Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Day’Ron Sharpe added 19 and 14. But that wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding, as the Nets dropped their ninth game in their last 10 outings.
The Lakers, now healthier and sharper, are trending up. With Reaves back in the mix and LeBron still leading the charge, they’ve got the tools to make a second-half push. Thursday’s game against Philly - and whatever moves come (or don’t) at the trade deadline - will go a long way in shaping what this team looks like down the stretch.
Up Next:
- Lakers: Host the 76ers on Thursday night.
- Nets: Travel to Orlando to face the Magic.