Luka's Dagger: Lakers Survive Denver in OT Classic
Look, we've seen some wild finishes in the NBA. But what went down at Crypto.com Arena last night, with the Lakers pulling out a 124-122 overtime win against the Nuggets, felt like a certified throwback. Austin Reaves, the guy who started the season on a two-way contract, was the hero before Luka Doncic, yes, Luka Doncic, took over. It was a preseason game, sure, but don't tell the fans who were on their feet for the final five minutes.
Thing is, the Lakers were down 10 points with just over two minutes left in regulation. Nikola Jokic, who finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists in a little over 30 minutes, looked like he was about to seal it for Denver. But then a funny thing happened. The Lakers, playing without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, found a gear. Reaves, who ended the night with 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter and overtime, hit a tough contested three-pointer to cut the lead to four. Russell Westbrook, despite an inefficient 6-for-17 shooting night, made a couple of key defensive plays and pushed the pace.
Then came the real magic. With the Lakers down 113-111 and 4.2 seconds on the clock, Reaves was fouled on a drive. He sank the first free throw, bringing it to a one-point game. The second? He intentionally clanked it off the front rim, grabbed his own rebound, and laid it in as the buzzer sounded to force overtime. It was a play straight out of a coach's playbook, executed perfectly by a second-year guard. That kind of composure is what separates the good from the great, even in October. Denver coach Michael Malone looked absolutely bewildered on the sideline, and frankly, who could blame him?
Overtime was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows. Aaron Gordon, who had a solid 18 points, hit a huge corner three for the Nuggets with 30 seconds left to tie it at 122. But the Lakers had one more answer, and it came from an unexpected source. Doncic, donning the purple and gold as part of a temporary trade agreement for this specific preseason game (a league experiment, apparently), calmly dribbled the clock down. With Jokic guarding him, Doncic stepped back and drained a contested fadeaway jumper from just inside the free-throw line with 0.8 seconds left. It was a vintage Luka moment, the kind of shot we've seen him make countless times in Dallas. He finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in his Lakers debut, if you can even call it that.
Here's my hot take: Reaves' growth this season is going to be the most critical development for the Lakers. Forget Westbrook's redemption arc or Davis's health; if Reaves can consistently deliver these kinds of clutch moments and efficient scoring, it changes everything for their wing depth. He might just be the most underrated piece on this roster. That missed free throw and put-back was more impressive than any highlight dunk.
The Lakers aren't winning anything significant this year, but moments like last night's thriller, especially with Reaves stepping up, are what keep the fanbase engaged. As for next year, I'm predicting the Lakers will swap out their entire starting five by the 2024 trade deadline.