No LeBron, No Problem: Austin Reaves Shines in Lakers Win

The Lakers Keep Rolling Without LeBron

In a game that showcased their depth and versatility, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their impressive run with a 133-121 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. What makes this win particularly noteworthy is that it came without their superstar LeBron James, who was sidelined managing a left foot injury. Instead, it was the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves who led the charge, demonstrating that this Lakers team is more than just a one-man show.

Reaves and Doncic Deliver in Absence of James

Austin Reaves put on a scoring clinic against the Pelicans, finishing with 33 points and eight assists. His performance was complemented by Luka Doncic, who recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. This marks yet another game where the Lakers have shown they can compete at a high level even when their franchise player is not on the court.

The Lakers were absolutely dominant from the opening tip, scoring 46 points in the first quarter—their highest single-quarter output of the season. They maintained their offensive intensity throughout the first half, racking up 77 points, which tied their season high for any half. This offensive explosion was too much for the injury-depleted Pelicans to handle.

Building Momentum Without LeBron

This victory extends the Lakers' winning streak to seven games, bringing their record to an impressive 15-4 on the season. The fact that they've been able to maintain such a high level of play without LeBron James for significant stretches of the season is a testament to the team's depth and the emergence of players like Reaves and Doncic as legitimate offensive threats.

"As long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing, the Lakers always stand a good chance of winning—even if LeBron James is out," noted Lakers coach JJ Redick after the game.

"It's something we've had to manage," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of LeBron's injuries. "Given the back-to-back and the fact that he's basically just coming off his training camp—this has been his training camp over the last 10 days or so—[we're] just being cautious."

The Road Ahead for James and the Lakers

With LeBron James entering his 23rd NBA campaign at age 40, managing his minutes and health remains a top priority for the Lakers coaching staff. The team has 10 sets of back-to-back games remaining this season, and the plan is to gradually build James up to play in those situations.

"No, we're going to build him up, hopefully, to be able to play in back-to-backs," Redick explained. "That's the goal. But you are correct. Every back-to-back is a case-by-case. That's just the reality of the NBA right now. But we want him to be able to play in back-to-backs. So does he. So, we're going to work toward that."

James has already missed the first 14 games of this season with sciatica and has played in just four games. The Lakers have 63 regular-season games remaining, meaning James can miss only two more if he wants to reach the NBA minimum of 65 games needed to qualify for postseason awards.

Austin Reaves' Rising Star

Throughout this stretch without LeBron, Austin Reaves has continued to solidify his role as a key contributor for the Lakers. His scoring ability, basketball IQ, and clutch performances have made him an invaluable part of the team's success. As the Lakers continue their season, Reaves will undoubtedly be counted on to maintain this level of production.

With a healthy LeBron James potentially returning soon and the team clicking on all cylinders, the Lakers appear to be rounding into form at the perfect time as they look to make a deep playoff run in what promises to be a competitive Western Conference.