Austin Reeves Struggles in Game 1 Against Thunder

Austin Reeves sat quietly by his locker, his feet submerged in an ice bucket, staring at the floor. The Lakers needed a big scoring boost in their playoff opener against the Thunder but ended up facing a disappointing 108-90 defeat.

It was not a good night for him. He managed just 3 of 16 from the field and failed to sink any of his five attempts from three-point range, resulting in only eight points.

This game represented a chance for the Lakers to steal a win against the Thunder.

With an eight-day break prior to the game, Reeves acknowledged he was a bit rusty. Compounding the Lakers’ troubles, Jaylen Williams sat out due to a hamstring issue. Even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a subpar night, scoring only 18 points while committing seven turnovers.

The reigning champions were exposed.

Yet, Reeves’ performance was far from what was needed. He had a critical role to play.

The Lakers were already missing their star, Luka Doncic, who averaged 33.5 points per game. For Reeves, having a strong game wasn’t just important; it was crucial.

Against one of the top defenses in the league, the Lakers needed a version of Reeves that had shone brightly during the season. A version capable of commanding a maximum contract extension with LA.

Instead, his shooting percentage for the game dropped to a shocking 18.8%.

According to ESPN Insights, this marked the lowest field goal percentage for a Laker with at least 15 attempts in a playoff game over the last 35 years.

“I had to earn my spot a lot of times and just missed a couple of easy shots,” he reflected.

Though Reeves had averaged a career-high 23.3 points at 49% shooting this season, he was still finding his footing after recovering from an oblique strain suffered on April 29. This was just his third game back.

But the Lakers needed more from him.

Reeves is regarded as a rising star, acting as the second option in the Lakers’ offense behind LeBron James, often considered one of the greatest players ever. This summer, he will be eligible for a contract that could be worth around $250 million.

Meeting the standards set for such a role was essential.

However, he fell short in this initial matchup.

LeBron, on the other hand, had a fantastic game, leading with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting and providing six assists. He stepped up in defense of his teammate. “He was out for a month,” James reiterated. “We’re doing our best to get him back to where he was before the injury. But he’s been out for a month.”

Reeves didn’t lean on that excuse. “Nobody cares about that,” he stated. “I need to play better.”

It’s clear he might be pushing through discomfort, showing a lot of heart. Yet, in a playoff game, there’s no room for participation awards. Every player must excel.

Unfortunately, Reeves was ice cold. Luke Kennard also faltered, hitting just 1 of 4 shots. The Lakers were outdone from long range, sinking just 33.3% compared to the Thunder’s 43.3%.

In that opening game, one has to wonder—who could the Lakers really have used?

They remain without Doncic, who is sidelined indefinitely after a hamstring strain from early April. He sat in the locker room post-game, dressed in black, a fitting color for the somber mood.

“When you face a world champion… there are guys averaging 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. That’s tough,” he observed.

Tuesday was doubly hard. The Lakers missed Doncic, but they also needed Reeves to show up, even if he was physically present on the court.

Reeves has faced challenges in previous postseasons. Last year, he shot just 26.9% from three. The year before, despite battling through a toe sprain, he averaged a career-low 16.2 points, with shooting percentages way below par.

This postseason hasn’t started well either, with just 2 of 17 (11.7%) from beyond the arc.

It’s disappointing because everyone knows what he’s capable of. His frustration is palpable; hard to watch, really.

Nonetheless, Lakers coach JJ Redick reassured fans. “He didn’t play well, but he’ll bounce back. He’s a great player,” he said.

For the Lakers’ sake, they’ll need him to regain his rhythm soon.

Reeves is pivotal for the Lakers in this series, and their chances hinge on him performing at his best.