Austin Reaves steps up with a stunning performance as Los Angeles Lakers stun Sacramento Kings in thrilling showdown

Austin Reaves took the challenge on Sunday evening. Austin Reaves carried the club on his shoulders one night when the Los Angeles Lakers were missing their two superstars. LeBron James and Luka Doncic were both injured, so Reaves handed in a career-best 51 points to lead the Lakers past the Sacramento Kings by a narrow 127-120 margin.

Lakers witness an unforgettable night as an unlikely hero rewrites the script in Sacramento

The grey carpet, which was still dripping with water from the ice bucket his teammates poured over his head, held the game ball a few feet to the left of Austin Reaves' locker. Without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers' thrilling 127-120 victory over the Kings last night was enough to call for celebration.The game Reaves played Sunday, 51-11-9 with only two turnovers in a 127-120 win in Sacramento, will be on both of those rankings when the databases are updated. Reaves stated to the Athletic:“Every time I see something like that.. it’s like, ‘Me?’ ‘Why me?' I don’t know.

I obviously know I’m a good basketball player. I believe in myself. But those are like … those are like the greatest players ever. And my name just randomly pops up.”

He then wondered:“What do I do that’s exceptional, like better than 95 percent of people that play basketball?” On his career night, Reaves came very close to recording a triple-double. In addition to his 51 points, he had nine assists and 11 rebounds. He had six 3-pointers and made 12 of 22 field goals.

That attracted a lot of attention, of course.“I literally get lost in basketball,” Reaves said. “During the game, I lose myself. And it just becomes — it’s weird to say — but it’s like I was literally born to play basketball.”Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame:"He was fantastic, did a little bit of everything for us tonight all over the place ... These moments are incredible for him.. I think his teammates see that, I know as a coaching staff, we see that.

He just lives in the moment. He's ready for every single moment that comes, and it's a pleasure to be around him every day."

With stars out, Austin Reaves quietly keeps the Lakers shining

Neither Reaves nor James have been healthy enough to participate in the three games since the Lakers acquired Doncic. Reaves is somehow averaging 44.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 9.7 assists during those three games.In a two-man game, Reaves and Ayton played flawlessly in the closing minutes, and Jake LaRavia made a crucial three-pointer to increase the lead.

Reaves' performance was not an isolated incident. Reaves has demonstrated in previous games that he excels when expected to lead, including a 45-point performance without LeBron and Doncic last season.Reaves had previously found himself in unusual air on Sunday. Reaves finished with 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in his last game as a rookie. In a game against Indiana last season, he recorded 45 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and three steals, becoming him the first Laker to do so since 1983–84. Also read: Why is Luka Doncic out? Star Los Angeles Lakers guard hit by fresh injury setback before Sacramento Kings showdown