The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 22-17 in this 2024-25 season with a narrow 102-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers were expected to breeze past the Nets even with Anthony Davis being out but nearly ended up losing, as D’Angelo Russell missed a potential game-winner in the dying moments.
The Lakers were led by Austin Reaves here, as he had a career-high 38 points (13-23 FG) to go with three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Reaves nearly cost the Lakers the game at the end, though, with four misses in the last two minutes but they just about held on. Lakers fans were relieved to get the win here.
“Horrible win, but I’ll take it,” one fan didn’t like how the Lakers played here but will take the win.
“Austin Pistol Pete Reves is him,” one fan praised Austin Reaves for coming up big again.
“Bruh I’m kinda pissed about this win how we in a dog fight with the Nets,” one Lakers fan wasn’t happy about scraping a win against the Nets.
“DLo saving us again. Thanks, big dawg,” one fan hilariously thanked Russell for missing that potential game-winner.
“LeBron and Austin Reaves masterclass just to beat the Brooklyn Nets. Trade for the talent please and hurry,” one fan wants the Lakers to make trades.
Reaves and LeBron James were the only positives for the Lakers on the night. James had 29 points (12-17FG), seven rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and two blocks against the Nets. He and Reaves were the only Lakers to score more than 10 points in this one.
Max Christie and Jaxsox Hayes combined for just 13 points while the entire Lakers bench had 12. If the Lakers were playing a team that isn’t in rebuild mode like the Nets, they almost certainly would have lost here.
The Lakers had seemingly put the Nets away when they went up 102-95 with 2:32 left in the fourth quarter. They failed to score the rest of the way, though, as Reaves took and missed every shot to bring the road team back into the game. Fortunately for him, his old backcourt partner wasn’t able to make him pay for it.
Russell was the Nets’ leading scorer against the Lakers, finishing with 19 points (7-15 FG), six rebounds, and eight assists off the bench. He scored or assisted the last nine points for the Nets but just wasn’t able to cap off the night with a game-winner.
This loss was the Nets’ second in a row and dropped them to 14-28 on the season. They take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center next and you wouldn’t fancy their chances of ending this losing streak in that one.
As for the Lakers, they have now followed up a three-game losing streak by winning two in a row. They will look to make it three wins on the spin when they face the Los Angeles Clippers next at the Intuit Dome on Sunday at 9 PM ET.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
