The Los Angeles Lakers secured a thrilling 130-120 victory against the Miami Heat on Sunday, highlighted by Luka Doncic’s impressive triple-double performance, which featured 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Fifth-year guard Austin Reaves also made a significant impact, contributing 26 points and 11 assists, demonstrating his emerging role as a key playmaker for the team.
From the outset, the Lakers established control of the game, racing to a 14-point lead by halftime. Doncic and Reaves led the charge, complemented by strong bench performances from Jake LaRavia, who scored 25 points, and center Jaxson Hayes, who reached a season-high of 15 points.
The Heat fought back with third-year forward Jamie Jaquez Jr. leading the charge, netting 31 points. Veteran center Bam Adebayo and guard Pelle Larsson each contributed 17 points, but the Lakers maintained their edge throughout the match. A particularly memorable highlight was Reaves’ lob to Bronny James late in the first quarter for Bronny’s only score of the night. Following the game, Reaves humorously claimed he made NBA history by throwing lobs to both a father and son, alluding to his connections with LeBron James.
Reaves has had a remarkable start to the season, currently averaging 31.1 points, 9.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, all of which lead the Lakers. His scoring prowess was on full display earlier in the season when he achieved a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings, followed by another impressive 41-point game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
With this victory, the Lakers improved to a 5-2 record, placing them atop the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference standings. This success comes while LeBron James is sidelined due to sciatica, with the team anticipating his return in mid-November.
Bronny James, now in his second season with the Lakers after being selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, has seen limited court time thus far, averaging 0.5 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in 11.5 minutes per game. However, his 18 minutes against the Heat might signal a growing role as the season progresses.
The Lakers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face the Trail Blazers on Monday night and then return home to battle the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday. The emergence of Reaves as a central figure could prove pivotal for the team’s success in the coming weeks.