LeBron James celebrates Austin Reaves historic performance that leads the Lakers to victory

LeBron James sat out Sunday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to sciatica, allowing Austin Reaves to take center stage and showcase his leadership skills.

Despite the absence of  James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers secured a 127-120 victory, thanks to Reaves historic performance, scoring 51 points—his career high—along with 11 rebounds and nine assists.

LeBron James watches from the bench as Austin Reaves leads the Lakers

Reaves performance captured the NBA’s attention, and LeBron James quickly reacted on social media, sharing his amazement and praising his teammate.

“Crazy! We almost had 50 straight possessions. Damn, Don! What a defense!” James wrote, highlighting the magnitude of Reaves performance and its impact on the franchise.

With this win, the Lakers improve to 2-1 on the season, gaining confidence ahead of a crucial bounce-back game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

AUSTIN REAVES TONIGHT:

51 POINTS
11 REBOUNDS
9 ASSISTS
12/22 FG
6/10 3PT
21/22 FT

pic.twitter.com/hQQPpKfNik

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 27, 2025

Although LeBron James continues his recovery and is expected to miss several more games, his influence on the team remains strong, both motivationally and strategically.

Austin Reaves shines while LeBron James absence tests the team

LeBron James absence allowed other Lakers players, such as DeAndre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart, to step up.

Ayton contributed 22 points and 15 rebounds, Hachimura added 18 points, and both Smart and Jake LaRavia scored 11 each.

Jarred Vanderbilt also added nine points off the bench, strengthening the team’s depth while the star remains sidelined.

The Lakers now face a dual challenge: maintaining offensive rhythm without LeBron James and managing injuries to other key players like Luka Doncic and Gabe Vincent.

The Lakers strategy focuses on maximizing Reaves impact and keeping the team competitive while James continues his recovery ahead of his 41st birthday in December.

With Reaves emergence and LeBron James strategic oversight, the Lakers aim to balance experience with youth, building a team capable of overcoming adversity and staying in the race for the top spots in the Western Conference.