After suffering an embarrassing blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers are eager to get back on track in NBA Cup play Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Unfortunately for JJ Redick and his team, they faced the daunting challenge of competing against one of the best teams in the Western Conference without one of their key players for part of the game. In the second quarter, starting guard Austin Reaves took a hard fall while attempting a layup and had to leave for the locker room with what was described as a back injury.
Reaves returned to the bench a few minutes into the third quarter and quickly re-entered the game, much to the relief of the Lakers. As the tightly contested NBA Cup game continued, Reaves provided the Lakers with a valuable secondary ball handler who could create scoring opportunities off the dribble and knock down outside shots.
Unfortunately, Reaves struggled with his shooting throughout the night. By the end of the third quarter, he was just 2-for-8 from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range, tallying only seven points. Despite his shooting woes, his presence on the floor remained a critical asset for the Lakers.
Anthony Davis, meanwhile, didn’t dominate offensively but still contributed with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double by the end of the third quarter. The game itself was marked by sloppy play and physicality, with both teams making it difficult for each other offensively. For a Lakers squad that has struggled defensively this season, their improved effort on that end of the court was a welcome development for JJ Redick and his staff.
