Austin Reaves, Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) pulls up a jumper in front Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Fifth-year Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves uttered the words “I love you” to the basketball Saturday night after making a spectacular play in his team’s overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets. After intentionally missing a free throw, Reaves made a floater with 1.9 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, sparking the series of events that resulted in the 127-125 win
After the game, Reaves explained why he became emotional after his clutch shot.
“I don’t really say much to the ball,” Reaves said, via LakersNation.
“It’s usually bad words. It’s usually when it’s not acting right. But like I said on the court, Luka got doubled, we were down two, threw it to me, I think I might’ve double dribbled, but went for a layup, Jokic got a good strip. Obviously was frustrated, wish I could’ve did better in that moment. But it eventually ended up working out.”
Lakers Win Tainted?
Reaves’ late sequence may never have happened if not for a late-game referee gaffe. A day after the Lakers’ win, the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report noted that Spencer Jones shouldn’t have been called for a foul on Reaves when the Lakers inbounded with 9.2 seconds left in regulation. As such, the Lakers may have caught a lucky break.
In the overtime period, Reaves missed both his shots but collected three of the team’s seven rebounds and did a solid job on the defensive end. The Lakers held the Nuggets to 2-for-10 in the five-minute overtime, yet needed an 18-foot step-back jumper from Luka Doncic with 0.5 seconds left to seal the win.
Austin Reaves Rounding into Form
After Saturday’s win, Reaves explained whether he was confident that his plan to intentionally miss a free throw and then score the game-tying basket with 1.9 seconds left in regulation would work.
“I mean, I knew I was going to miss,” said Reaves, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I wasn’t going to give the ball an opportunity to go in. Some people shoot it high, and they end up making it on accident. But I don’t think my ball ever got over 10 feet.”
Reaves, who missed 19 games with a calf strain from late December to early February, struggled to regain his footing after the injury. He averaged 19.4 points and 3.6 assists over 10 games in February, a significant drop from his season averages of 24.0 and 5.5, respectively. Through eight games in March, he has averaged 22.5 points and 5.8 assists on excellent 49/40/86 shooting splits, with his minutes also soaring to 36.5 from 29.1 in February. Reaves has also benefited from LeBron James missing three of the Lakers’ eight games in March, with his shot attempts soaring to over 18.0 without James.
The Lakers (42-25) aim to extend their five-game winning streak with back-to-back away games against the Houston Rockets (41-25) on Monday and Wednesday. JJ Redick’s team will then continue the road trip with stops in Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.