Austin Reaves Drops 51 as Undermanned Lakers Stun Kings on the Road

Austin Reaves delivered a masterclass in Sacramento, torching the Kings for a career-high 51 points as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a gritty 127–120 win Sunday night.

With Luka Doncic and LeBron James both sidelined by injuries, Reaves carried the load and nearly recorded a triple-double, 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, missing the milestone by one dime. It was the kind of performance that instantly redefines a player’s reputation.

Reaves hit six 3-pointers and went a scorching 21-for-22 from the free-throw line, taking over late as the Lakers turned a four-point deficit into an 11-point cushion. “He just wouldn’t miss,” said Kings coach Mike Brown afterward. “Every time we thought we had him covered, he made something happen.”

After Domantas Sabonis’s triple put Sacramento ahead 101–97 with 9:50 left, Reaves triggered an 11–0 run, drilling back-to-back threes, then another after a Deandre Ayton bucket. From there, the Lakers never looked back.

Ayton added 22 points and a monster 15 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura contributed 18. Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart each had 11.

The Kings made it interesting late, closing to 122–119 on a Zach LaVine three with 90 seconds left, but Reaves sealed the win from the line. The Lakers finished +29 in free throws (41–12), a margin that offset Sacramento’s 54–24 advantage from deep.

LaVine led the Kings with 32, while Sabonis (10 points, 14 rebounds) and Dennis Schroeder (18 points, 12 assists) notched double-doubles. DeMar DeRozan added 21, but it wasn’t enough to stop Reaves’ solo demolition.

Elsewhere in the NBA, Victor Wembanyama exploded for 31 points and 14 rebounds in San Antonio’s 118–107 win over Brooklyn, keeping the Spurs unbeaten. Anthony Davis powered Dallas past Toronto with 25 points and 10 boards, while Kawhi Leonard dropped 30 in the Clippers’ 114–107 victory over Portland.

In Detroit, Cade Cunningham’s 25 points led the Pistons over Boston 119–113, and LaMelo Ball posted a 38-point triple-double in Charlotte’s 139–113 rout of Washington.