Austin Reaves delivers a historic night for the Lakers without LeBron or Doncic

When the spotlight shifted to the absence of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves decided it was his time. And it was. On a night that will be etched in the memory of Lakers fans, Reaves put together a monumental performance: 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists to lead Los Angeles to a 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings.

With LeBron out due to sciatica and Doncic nursing a sprained finger and a leg contusion, the Lakers were desperate for a leader. According to outlets like Marca, Austin Reaves didn’t just show up—he made history. He became only the fourth player in the last 40 years to post a 50-11-9 stat line, joining elite company like Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The last Laker to do it? Elgin Baylor, back in 1963.

LAKERS WIN WITHOUT LUKA AND LEBRON 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Reaves — 51pts | 11reb | 9ast

Ayton 👀 — 22pts | 15reb

Hachimura — 18pts

LaRavia — 11pts | 6reb | 5ast

Smart — 11pts | 5ast https://t.co/2BdCcpnUBN

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 27, 2025

Reaves was unstoppable

Austin Reaves knocked down six three-pointers, including the 500th of his career, and scored 15 of his 51 points in the final quarter. His clutch jumper with under two minutes left gave the Lakers a 122-116 lead. He then iced the game with four free throws in the final 32 seconds. From the start, his teammates backed him up—Rui Hachimura dropped 10 points in the first nine minutes, and DeAndre Ayton finished with 22 points and 15 boards.

The Kings didn’t make it easy. Zach LaVine led Sacramento with 32 points, while the trio of DeRozan, Sabonis, and Schroder kept the game tight through halftime. But in crunch time, no one could stop Austin Reaves.

The four other players this century to total 50+ points in a game for the Lakers:

1. Kobe Bryant (25x)
2. LeBron James (3x)
3. Anthony Davis (2x)
4. Shaquille O’Neal (2x) https://t.co/6QLKF6V5V2 pic.twitter.com/hwjLVpbYxt

— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) October 27, 2025

Undeniable star

Head coach JJ Redick summed it up perfectly: “He was fantastic and did a bit of everything tonight. He lives in the moment and is ready for every moment.” After the game, Austin Reaves was swarmed by teammates in a celebration that went beyond stats. “It means a lot,” he said. “We play basketball for moments like these, and being treated that way is special.”

With two superstars out, Austin Reaves didn’t just step up—he stole the show. His performance rescued a tough night and placed him firmly in the conversation among the greats. And in Los Angeles, that’s no small feat.