LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 17: Austin Reaves #15 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 17, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Austin Reaves scored a career-high 38 points, LeBron James had 29 and the Los Angeles Lakers held on to beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-101 on Friday night.
The Nets, who lost 126-67 to the LA Clippers on Wednesday night in a franchise-record 59-point defeat, had a chance to win it, but D’Angelo Russell missed a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds remaining. James got the rebound as the Lakers won their second straight.
Reaves was 13 for 23 from the floor and 8 for 8 from the foul line. His previous career high was 35 points, accomplished twice, including Dec. 31 against Cleveland. Reaves had 15 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers.
AUSTIN REAVES DROPS CAREER HIGH 38 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2025
⭐️ 38p (15 in 4Q)
⭐️ 4 threes
⭐️ 3a, 3r, 2s, 1 b
⭐️ 56.5 FG%@Lakers win a close one over Brooklyn! pic.twitter.com/4nx957afXv
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Russell, traded by the Lakers to the Nets, had 19 points in his first game against his former team while Zaire Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan scored 15 apiece.
Takeaways
Nets: Had a 49-15 advantage in bench scoring, which included three players in double figures — Russell, Evbuomwan and Jalen Wilson (11).
Sports
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Lakers: Reaves and James supplied more than half of the Lakers' points with Anthony Davis a late scratch due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Jaxson Hayes started in Davis’ place and scored six points along with nine rebounds.
Key moment
Reaves had an alley oop to James on a fast break to give the Lakers a 102-95 lead with 2:32 remaining. It ended up being their last basket of the game.
"LEBRON... FINISH IT. FINISH IT."
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2025
AR up top to LBJ 👑 pic.twitter.com/Tfp3amCRve
Key stat
The Lakers were 12 for 19 shooting in the fourth quarter, including five 3-pointers.
Up next
Nets visit Oklahoma City on Sunday to finish a six-game trip, and Lakers play at the Los Angeles Clippers.
