JJ Redick challenged Austin Reaves, and the guard responded.
The Los Angeles Lakers got back to their winning ways on Saturday night, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 134-127 at the FedEx Forum. Austin Reaves starred in the win, and postgame, head coach JJ Redick shared that he had issued a challenge to the guard.
“He set the tone early,” Redick said. “We pushed him a bit to play with more intensity and pace off the ball. I thought he responded well early, and it helped us generate some good plays.”
Reaves rose to the challenge against the Grizzlies. The 26-year-old recorded eight points and three assists in the first quarter, helping the Lakers build a 39-28 lead by the end of the period.
In the second half, Reaves exploded for 18 more points, helping the Lakers secure the victory. He finished with 31 points (8-16 FG), seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block. This marked his second consecutive 30-point game, and he was no doubt pleased with the outcome, especially after the Lakers’ tough loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
It was vital for the Lakers to bounce back after such a loss, and they did just that. With the win, the Lakers improved to 45-29, solidifying their hold on the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
But Reaves wasn’t the only player challenged before the game. Redick also discussed the challenges he had set for Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Dončić.
“We asked all three to play with more force, energy, and creativity in their three-man action,” Redick said. “In the fourth quarter, we were able to get great results from that and create the advantages we envisioned when we put them together.”
Each player rose to the occasion. James posted 25 points (10-21 FG), six rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and one block. Dončić contributed 29 points (8-18 FG), eight rebounds, nine assists, and two steals.
For the first time in NBA history, three players recorded 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the same game, while each made at least two three-pointers. They all made significant contributions to the Lakers’ crucial win.
With this victory, the Lakers also secured the season series against the Grizzlies, which could prove to be important. They now hold the tiebreaker against the Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors, the three teams directly behind them in the standings.
Next, the Lakers will face the 48-26 Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on Monday at 10 PM ET. It will be the first of two remaining games against the Rockets, and winning both could put them in a strong position to potentially secure the second seed by season’s end.