The Los Angeles Lakers will soon be packing for Las Vegas. In a heated battle against the Phoenix Suns, LeBron James and Kevin Durant put on a show; both notching game-high scores of 31 points. Joining them were two of their teammates, marking around 20-point stints. However, as the game approached its climax, it was Austin Reaves who emerged as the clutch player for the Lakers, overshadowing Devin Booker’s late-game efforts that ultimately proved futile.

Adding to the drama, the Suns experienced a rocky start, giving up 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone – the highest by any team this season. On the other side, James finished the business y scoring 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.

Austin Reaves paves the way for the Lakers

In the intense showdown, the game was on the line, and each team possessed enough talent to take it home. As a result, Austin Reaves, seizing the crucial moment, answered the call with finesse. Dazzling Grayson Allen with smooth crossovers, Reaves put up a nail-biter to effortlessly sink a clutch three-pointer. His three extended the Lakers lead to 105-101, sending shockwaves with a mere 18 seconds remaining in the game.

Following the Lakers’ turbulent start to the season, Reaves was assigned to come off the bench for the squad. Despite not being included in the starting lineup, it was asserted that Reaves would keep playing a pivotal role in closing out games for the team; with no significant impact on his playing time.

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Darvin Ham’s adjustment appears to have yielded success, also showcasing Reaves’ adaptability. This isn’t the first instance where Reaves, in his new role, has seamlessly embraced the role of the closer for the team.

Fans love AR-15

Reaves’ shot was the decisive factor for the Lakers, a sentiment echoed by Coach Ham in a post-game interview. In response, fans flooded social media platforms with praise for Reaves. Some expressed their admiration in comment sections, while others directly lauded him on their profiles.

@JustEsBaraheni solidified the notion that Reaves truly is ‘him.’

Meanwhile, @KevinOConnorNBA, a prominent figure in the NBA space, couldn’t contain their excitement, exclaiming, “HOLY AUSTIN REAVES!!!”

The Suns, initially trailing at halftime, orchestrated a remarkable 14-point run in the third quarter. @msalmanhilal shed light on the intensity of the game in the wake of similar turnarounds.

Amidst the new and positive narratives of the in-season tournament, @arn_mouf extended major props to Adam Silver for his season-altering moves.

Reflecting on the clutch moments, @whosdooos, with the Golden State Warriors elimination game in mind, boldly declared that Reaves is superior to Stephen Curry in crunch time.

With the victory, the Lakers secured their spot in the tournament’s semifinals. They will now face the New Orleans Pelicans in Las Vegas.

Who do you think will win the inaugural NBA cup?

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