Lakers' Austin Reaves shines with 25 points in win over Knicks

Reaves' aggressive play was key to the Lakers' victory with LeBron James sidelined.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In the Lakers' 110-97 win over the Knicks on Sunday, Austin Reaves had a standout performance, scoring 25 points on 50% shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Reaves was aggressive and assertive, hunting for the ball and his shot, which led to one of the Lakers' best wins of the season. With LeBron James sidelined, the Lakers needed Reaves to step up, and he delivered, dazzling with his 3-point shooting and physical play. This was a reminder of Reaves' strong start to the season before he missed time due to injury, when he was playing at an All-Star level.

Why it matters

Reaves' performance was crucial for the Lakers, who are trying to find a rhythm with their Big 3 of Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic. When Reaves is aggressive and playing to his potential, it makes a significant difference for the Lakers, as evidenced by their 15-4 start to the season. This win over the third-best team in the East shows the Lakers can compete with the top teams in the league when Reaves is at his best.

The details

Reaves had 25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in the win. He was aggressive in driving to the basket and hunting for his shot, going 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Lakers coach JJ Redick emphasized the importance of Reaves being aggressive and physical on offense, which allowed him to score effectively against the Knicks' size.

  • Reaves missed 19 games earlier this season due to a left calf strain.
  • Since returning on February 3, Reaves has only scored 20+ points three times in 15 games.

The players

Austin Reaves

A Lakers guard who was playing at an All-Star level to start the season before missing time due to injury. He had a standout performance against the Knicks, scoring 25 points and playing aggressively on both ends of the floor.

LeBron James

The Lakers' superstar forward who missed his second straight game due to a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' other superstar who, along with LeBron James, has been trying to find a rhythm with Reaves as part of the team's Big 3.

JJ Redick

The Lakers' head coach who emphasized the importance of Reaves being aggressive and physical on offense.

Rui Hachimura

A Lakers player who noted that when Reaves is aggressive, good things happen for the team.

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What they’re saying

“We just kept telling him, 'Touch the paint, touch the paint, touch the paint.' He was really strong today. … When people talk about physicality, we always talk about physicality on defense, but you need physicality on offense. And I thought he was very physical offensively and that allowed him to score the basket, allowed him to draw fouls.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

“Playing with him, it makes my life easy.”

— Luka Doncic

“When he's aggressive, good things are going to happen.”

— Rui Hachimura, Lakers Player

What’s next

The Lakers will look to build on this win as they continue to integrate their Big 3 of Reaves, James, and Doncic. The team's ability to compete with top Eastern Conference teams like the Knicks will be crucial as they push for a high playoff seed in the West.

The takeaway

Reaves' aggressive and assertive play was the difference-maker for the Lakers in their win over the Knicks. When Reaves is at his best, attacking the basket and knocking down shots, it unlocks the full potential of the Lakers' offense and makes life easier for his superstar teammates. This performance was a reminder of Reaves' All-Star-caliber start to the season and the importance of him finding that form again as the Lakers make a playoff push.