Lakers rout Nets as Austin Reaves returns in finale of 8-game trip
NEW YORK — The Lakers closed their extended road trip with several reasons to feel good.
LeBron James had 25 points and seven assists, Luka Doncic had 24 and the Lakers rolled to a 125-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night in Austin Reaves’ first game since Christmas.
Reaves had 15 points in 21 minutes after missing the past 19 games with a strained left calf. He entered late in the first quarter with the Lakers already well in control and helped them continue to pour it on during their 20-for-25 shooting start to the game.
Jake LaRavia scored 18 points for the Lakers (30-19), who finished their trip with a 5-3 record and play next against Philadelphia at home Thursday night, a few hours after the NBA’s noon PT trade deadline has passed.
James had said it was difficult to evaluate the team’s potential without Reaves, who was averaging 26.6 points before he was hurt. They looked potent Tuesday, though it’s hard to judge much against the hapless Nets (13-36), who are only good at losing badly.
Brooklyn was coming off a 53-point loss in Detroit on Sunday and it appeared the Lakers might win by even more. They made 15 of their 18 shots (83.3%) in the first quarter while opening a 45-23 lead, then James scored while being fouled on their first shot of the second.
Reaves then missed consecutive 3-point shots, but came up with a steal and threw the ball off the backboard for James to slam it down. When James later dunked off his own steal, it was 57-28 and the Lakers were 20 for 25 from the field.
The lead grew to 38 points before the Lakers took a 69-40 lead to the locker room at halftime.
The Lakers were thrilled to welcome back Reaves, who was shooting 50.7% from the field to go with 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game before being sidelined for five weeks.
“I think we’ve missed him in every facet,” Coach JJ Redick said. “Both as an on-ball player, off-ball player, a connector, leadership on the court, competitive spirit – competitive spirit defensively. So, he’s an All-Star-level player, and of course, you’re going to miss him in a number of ways.”
Reaves shot 3 for 9 from the field (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 8 for 10 from the free-throw line to go with four rebounds, one assist, two steals and two turnovers.
Reaves, 27, was enjoying a career-best season before tweaking his left calf on Dec. 10 in a 132-119 loss to the San Antonio Spurs and then suffering a separate strain of the calf two weeks later in a 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
Prior to the injury, he was averaging 26.6 points on 50.7% shooting from the field, with 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.
Doncic shot 8 for 18 from the field (4 for 11 from behind the arc) and sat for the fourth quarter after playing 29 minutes. He also handed out five assists and grabbed six rebounds.
Doncic’s stepback 3-pointer extended the lead to 83-44 with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter and the Lakers held an 89-55 lead when James went to the bench with 4:25 left. The Lakers held a 100-74 advantage through the third and led 111-83 when James checked out for the night with just over eight minutes left.
James made 10 of 16 shots to go with three rebounds and three of the Lakers’ 14 steals. During his final minutes on the floor, some fans were chanting “We Want Bronny” in hopes of seeing his son, Bronny James, enter the game. The younger James played the final 4:36 and earned loud cheers from the mostly pro-Lakers crowd for a pair of baskets.
The Lakers shot 54.1% overall and scored 66 points in the paint to offset a 7-of-31 showing from 3-point range.
Michael Porter Jr. had 21 points and 10 rebounds but shot 0 for 9 from 3-point range for the Nets, who lost for the ninth time in 10 games and the 17th time in the past 20. Day’Ron Sharpe finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Ziaire Williams contributed 17 for the Nets, who scored 69 points in the second half to make the final score more respectable.
More to come on this story.
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The Lakers host Philadelphia on Thursday at 7 p.m.
"I've been pretty bored for a month now, so it's good to be back."
Austin Reaves (15 PTS, 4 REB, 2 STL) speaks with @LakersReporter following his return from a calf injury in the #Lakers 125-109 victory in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/ZejtN7eVzM
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 4, 2026
JJ on Austin Reaves:
"I thought he put himself in a good position to have a good night."
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: https://t.co/k8Sa1tLkWs pic.twitter.com/PJc62YjS1g— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 4, 2026