The Los Angeles Lakers failed to close out the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Wednesday, falling 99-93 at Crypto.com Arena. But the night was not without silver linings. Austin Reaves made his eagerly-awaited return to the lineup, and following the game, he opened up about the process that got him there.
"It's been a grind," Reaves admitted. "I've been running around Los Angeles doing everything I could possibly do to get back to this moment. We've done it. ... (I) wish I played a little better, wish I made a couple more shots."
It was Reaves' first game action since April 2, when he suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain against the Oklahoma City Thunder (who now loom as a potential round two opponent).
Though Reaves came off the bench in Game 5, he ended up playing starter minutes (34) and was LA's second leading scorer with 22 points on rusty 4-of-16 shooting. AR added six assists and four rebounds in an encouraging performance, all things considered. But the Lakers ultimately failed to accomplish their mission, which has LA fans fuming.
Lakers just squandered what should have been a victorious return for Austin Reaves
Reaves' sentiment of "We've done it" is sure to have Lakers fans especially frustrated as they look ahead to a thorny Game 6 in Houston. Thinking about all of the grueling work that Reaves went through in April to get to this moment, it's even more aggravating to have watched Reaves' teammates not step up and collectively get it done in his first game back.
LeBron James performed up to snuff, finishing with a game-high 25 points and just two turnovers, but Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart weren't sharp, and the Lakers' bench beyond Reaves -- Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jaxson Hayes -- combined for a pathetic four points.
Lakers-Rockets series just became a high-pressure spectacle
Reaves' return signals that the Lakers now have two scorers they can rely on to deliver in Game 6. Will Reaves be less rusty on Friday, and could that be the difference for the Lakers? Or, will his conditioning and rhythm take longer to fully recalibrate?
The realistic answer is that Reaves is already doing all he can. The "grind" he described must now be adopted by guys like LaRavia and Hayes. LA cannot expect Reaves to be their savior in Game 6. It will take a full team effort to finally kill off the Rockets, and if the Lakers decide to leave that assignment until Game 7, they're only setting themselves up for a tragic end to their season.
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