<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-reaction-seeing-luka-doncics-finger-goes-viral');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers guard Austin Reaves’ reaction after seeing Luka Doncic’s finger goes viral');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/reaves-and-Doncic.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers guard Austin Reaves’ reaction after seeing Luka Doncic’s finger goes viral</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T09:51:50-07:00">October 28th, 9:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T09:51:50-07:00">October 28th, 9:51am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University alum from Atlanta who graduated with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Monday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers dropped to 2-2 with a home loss at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. It was another big <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-admit-tough-situation-stars-out">game from Austin Reaves</a>, who followed up his 51-point masterpiece against the Sacramento Kings with 41 more on Monday, but ultimately, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-states-the-obvious-amid-lebron-james-luka-doncic-absences">Lakers’ lack of depth</a> due to injuries was too much to overcome against Portland.</p><p>The Lakers could certainly use Luka Doncic right about now, but the Slovenian star is currently out dealing with multiple injuries, including a left finger sprain.</p><p>On Monday, when Reaves was on the sideline, Doncic appeared to show his teammate how his hand looked due to the injury, and Reaves’ reaction <a href="https://twitter.com/LukaUpdates/status/1983007937288380682" rel="noopener">quickly went viral.</a></p><p>(NFSW, video via Luka Updates on X, formerly Twitter).</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">AR says “Oh shit” when Luka shows him his palm or finger? 😳 <a href="https://t.co/Fs4Kuk2KFj">pic.twitter.com/Fs4Kuk2KFj</a></p><p>— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/LukaUpdates/status/1983007937288380682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Lakers fans are certainly hoping that Doncic’s injury isn’t as bad as Reaves’ reaction might suggest it is.</p><h2><b>A tough stretch for the Lakers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Austin-Reaves-during-preseason-game.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Los Angeles Lakers knew they’d be without LeBron James for the first few weeks of this season due to injury, but they likely didn’t anticipate having only seven members of their active roster healthy less than a week into the 2025-26 campaign.</p><p>However, that’s exactly the situation that the team finds itself in now due to a variety of injuries. The good news for Austin Reaves is that it’s given him an opportunity just how elite of a player he can be with the ball in his hands, but it remains unclear if head coach JJ Redick will be able to find a way to weaponize that potential when he is relegated to his normal third option role alongside James and Doncic.</p><p>Overall, the Lakers will gladly take a 2-2 start considering the number of injuries they’re dealing with, but they’d certainly like to have their best player in Doncic back in the lineup as soon as possible. Doncic had gotten off to a red-hot start to the season, scoring 43 and 49 points in his first two games before the injury sidelined him.</p><p>The Lakers will next take the floor against the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers guard Austin Reaves’ reaction after seeing Luka Doncic’s finger goes viral

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-states-the-obvious-amid-lebron-james-luka-doncic-absences');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ JJ Redick states the obvious amid LeBron James, Luka Doncic absences');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lakers-head-coach-JJ-Redick-makes-a-call-to-the-bench-during-the-first-quarter-of-the-game.jpg"><figcaption>© Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ JJ Redick states the obvious amid LeBron James, Luka Doncic absences</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T09:14:54-07:00">October 28th, 9:14am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T09:14:54-07:00">October 28th, 9:14am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat the challenge his team faces without its two stars. Following <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-gets-brutally-honest-on-how-not-fun-loss-to-blazers-was">Monday night’s 122-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers</a>, Redick acknowledged the offensive struggles that have emerged with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-admit-tough-situation-stars-out">both LeBron James and Luka Doncic sidelined</a>.</p><p>Speaking postgame via Spectrum SportsNet on X, formerly known as Twitter, Redick put it plainly.</p><p>“It’s hard to run offense without ball handlers,” he said.</p><p>The Lakers entered the season already without James, who <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-surprise-activity-hasnt-done-16-years">remains sidelined as he recovers from a sciatica injury</a> that has kept him out since training camp. Doncic, meanwhile, has missed the team’s last two games due to a left finger sprain and leg contusion. The 26-year-old guard is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-out-1-week-multiple-injuries">expected to be out for roughly a week</a> as the team proceeds cautiously with his recovery.</p><p>Before the injury, Doncic opened the season in dominant fashion, averaging 46 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 62 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three-point range across the first two games. His absence has left a significant void in Los Angeles’ offensive rhythm.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“It’s hard to run offense without ball handlers.”</p><p>JJ Redick addresses the media after the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakers</a> fall to the Trail Blazers, losing 122-108.</p><p>Spectrum customers with both Internet and Mobile services can watch live Laker games at no extra cost with Spectrum SportsNet+.<br>🔗:… <a href="https://t.co/1pXpBbIi3W">pic.twitter.com/1pXpBbIi3W</a></p><p>— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpectrumSN/status/1983041717512376783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>In Doncic’s place, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-austin-reaves-same-lebron-luka-tier">Austin Reaves has taken on a heavy workload</a> and emerged as the Lakers’ primary scoring option. The 27-year-old guard erupted for a career-high 51 points in Sunday’s 128-120 win over the Sacramento Kings, adding 11 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals while shooting 12-for-22 from the field and 21-for-22 from the free-throw line.</p><h2><b>JJ Redick guides short-handed Lakers without LeBron James and Luka Doncic</b></h2><p>Reaves followed that performance with another standout effort against Portland, scoring 41 points to go with five assists, four rebounds, and two steals while shooting 13-for-22 from the field and 12-for-14 from the line. Through four games this season, Reaves is averaging 35.8 points, 8.5 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals while shooting 57.3 percent overall and 42.9 percent from three.</p><p>Despite the short-handed lineup, Redick <a href="https://x.com/SpectrumSN/status/1983041717512376783" rel="noopener">found positives in his team’s performance</a>, particularly on the defensive end.</p><p>“I took a lot away,” Redick said. “You know our half-court defense was excellent – first shot defense was excellent and we saw for the most part outside of a couple of guys, just a highly competitive, spirited, connected group. You can build on that.”</p><p>Redick, now in his second season as head coach, has emphasized maintaining structure and competitiveness as the team navigates the early absences of its two franchise leaders. The Lakers dropped to 2-2 on the season with Monday’s loss, a result that highlighted their reliance on James and Doncic to stabilize the offense.</p><p>The Lakers’ next opportunity to bounce back comes Wednesday night when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2) on the road at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Los Angeles will then travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies (2-2) on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video before returning home to Crypto.com Arena.</p><p>While both James and Doncic are expected to return later this month, Redick and the Lakers are tasked with keeping the team steady until their stars are back in action.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ JJ Redick states the obvious amid LeBron James, Luka Doncic absences

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-trae-young-comparisons-luka-doncic-anthony-edwards');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hawks’ Trae Young earns comparisons to both Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards from new teammates');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trae-Young-and-Anthony-Edwards.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Hawks’ Trae Young earns comparisons to both Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards from new teammates</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T09:29:36-07:00">October 27th, 9:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T09:29:36-07:00">October 27th, 9:29am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-kristaps-porzingis-first-bucket-atlanta">Hawks have put together a team</a> this season that could be one of the more competitive ones in the Eastern Conference. Trae Young will be the engine of the team, and he’s shown over his career that he can lead a group, regardless of who’s playing. Despite the narratives that may have been created about Young, players <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46701366/nba-atlanta-hawks-trae-young-silence-haters-2025-2026-new-teammates" rel="noopener">know what he brings</a> to the table, including his newest teammate, Nickeil Alexander-Walker.</p><p>Alexander-Walker has played with Anthony Edwards, and narratives have spun about him, too. He thinks Young and Edwards are similar when it comes to their demeanor, but he sees it in a positive light, unlike others.</p><p>“Ant has a very strong personality,” Alexander-Walker said via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “Trae has a strong personality. It just comes out different. And so when guys are very self-confident and aware of who they are, to the untrained eye that could be arrogance. It could be cockiness.</p><p>“Trae has confidence. Ant, Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], Luka [Doncic] has confidence. … But [Young] still wears a heavy burden of pressure. And he’s had success through his pressure.”</p><p>Young has thrived in different situations since he started his career, and he probably wouldn’t have succeeded without having that confidence.</p><h2><b>Kristaps Porzingis compares Trae Young, Luka Doncic</b></h2><p>Young is known as one of the best playmakers in the league, and he has the stats to back it up. He knows how to get his teammates good looks, and Kristaps Porzingis could thrive in his role with the Hawks. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-luka-doncic-kristaps-porzingis-game-1-nba-finals">Porzingis has played with another great playmaker</a> before in Luka Doncic, and he’s using that experience as he plays alongside Young.</p><p>“The playmaking, they both have it at the highest of levels,” Porzingis said. “They do some similar stuff, honestly. Their builds are different. But they’re both masterminds at reading the basket, anticipating what’s going to happen, reading the game, anticipating what’s going to happen.</p><p>“That experience [with Doncic in Dallas] is definitely going to help me. Playing with Luka and having those open conversations and open dialogue with Trae about what he likes, where he wants to get the ball, and how I can make his life easier.”</p><p>Young is bound to make everyone’s life easier when they’re on the floor with him, and he can also turn things up and get himself going.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hawks’ Trae Young earns comparisons to both Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards from new teammates

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-60-point-challenge-austin-reaves-nearly-did-it');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Luka Doncic issued 60-point challenge to Austin Reaves, and then he nearly did it');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Austin-Reaves-and-Luka-Doncic-celebrating.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ Luka Doncic issued 60-point challenge to Austin Reaves, and then he nearly did it</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T08:40:14-07:00">October 27th, 8:40am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T08:40:42-07:00">October 27th, 8:40am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Austin Reaves already knew what was expected of him when it was revealed that LeBron James would miss considerable time due to sciatica, but the recent <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-out-1-week-multiple-injuries">Luka Doncic injury news</a> forces the Los Angeles Lakers guard to enter savior mode. The Slovenian superstar himself <a href="https://x.com/LakersReporter/status/1982658908897620377" rel="noopener">called on</a> Reaves to score 60 points in Sunday’s clash with the Sacramento Kings, per Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell, a challenge that the 27-year-old was not too far from achieving.</p><p>Reaves seamlessly assumed the top role on offense, dropping 51 points on 12-of-22 shooting in a 127-120 road win. He was one assist shy of a triple-double and also recorded two steals, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-joins-ex-mvps-exclusive-all-time-club">posting a masterful effort</a> when the Lakers needed him most. Jarred Vanderbilt also dared Reaves to step up in Sacramento, and his request was fulfilled.</p><p>“We were going to the bus lines, I was telling him, ‘we need 50 from you tonight,'” the veteran power forward told reporters, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “As you can see, he did it. We challenged him, and he came through.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“‘We need 50 from you tonight’ … and as you can see, he did it.” Jarred Vanderbilt on his challenge to Austin Reaves as they boarded the team bus before the Kings. Reaves scored 51 and the Lakers won. <a href="https://t.co/rTwgtCCHGR">pic.twitter.com/rTwgtCCHGR</a></p><p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1982675362518860045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Austin Reaves steps up for Lakers in a huge way </b></h2><p>The undrafted talent out of Wichita State and Oklahoma was absolutely magnificent in the fourth quarter, knocking down three of his six 3-pointers in the span of two and a half minutes to help give LA a 108-101 lead with 6:46 remaining. He then essentially wrapped a bow on the W with a clutch display on the free throw line — was a mind-boggling 21-of-22 from the charity stripe overall.</p><p>Although Reaves had already introduced himself as an undeniable difference-maker in the years prior, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-key-factor-austin-reaves-51-points">this sensational outing</a> in the Golden 1 Center illustrated just how dangerous he can be as a No. 1 option. LeBron James is one of the two best players to ever step foot on a basketball court. Luka Doncic is an offensive savant who is expected to win at least one MVP crown before he retires. Naturally, No. 15 is often overshadowed by the elite company he keeps, but he is a vital member of this franchise.</p><p>The Lakers will not contend in the loaded Western Conference unless Austin Reaves is consistently competing at an impactful level. He proved as much in Sacramento, impressing Doncic, answering Vanderbilt’s plea and imbuing fans with new confidence. Los Angeles is hoping the new 50-point man has enough in the tank to lead the 2-1 squad past the visiting Portland Trail Blazers (1-2) on Monday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Luka Doncic issued 60-point challenge to Austin Reaves, and then he nearly did it

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-luka-doncic-joke-nearly-backfires-51-point-masterclass-kings');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers star Austin Reaves’ Luka Doncic joke nearly backfires amid 51-point masterclass vs. Kings');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lakers-guard-Luka-Doncic-left-and-guard-Austin-Reaves-15-interact.jpg"><figcaption>© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers star Austin Reaves’ Luka Doncic joke nearly backfires amid 51-point masterclass vs. Kings</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-26T23:58:21-07:00">October 26th, 11:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-26T23:58:21-07:00">October 26th, 11:58pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-drops-the-mic-with-perfect-reaction-to-51-point-stunner">Austin Reaves has built quite a close friendship</a> with Luka Doncic even though they’ve been teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers for a little less than nine months. The two always have quite a hilarious banter with one another, with Reaves <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQP3iv7CVZ4/" rel="noopener">clowning</a> Doncic after he missed a free-throw on Friday night during their 127-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves — putting him just one point shy of his first 50-point game as a member of the Purple and Gold.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQP3iv7CVZ4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQP3iv7CVZ4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bleacher Report (@bleacherreport)</a></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>On Sunday night, with Doncic being declared out for a week with multiple injuries, the onus was on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-even-james-worthy-is-in-awe-of-austin-reaves-51-point-night">Reaves to lead the Lakers’ offense</a> against the Sacramento Kings. He ended up with the best game of his career to this point — 51 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists on 12-22 shooting from the field, 6-10 from deep, and 21-22 from the charity stripe.</p><p>But Doncic is surely laughing somewhere that Reaves nearly ended up with the same fate as him. Reaves, who has the entire world as his oyster, admitted that he <a href="https://twitter.com/khobi_price/status/1982693511955968452" rel="noopener">felt some pressure</a> at the foul line as he approached the 50-point mark as his joke towards his Lakers co-star nearly backfired.</p><p>“I ain’t gonna lie, I went to the free throw line. I’m like, s**t, I better not miss,” Reaves said, eliciting a laugh from the press room, via Khobi Price of So Cal News Group.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I ain't gonna lie, I went to the free throw line. I'm like, s—, I better not miss," Austin Reaves, fresh off scoring a career-high 51 points tonight in Sacramento, after trolling Luka Doncic on IG on Friday night: <a href="https://t.co/OUaGIVNzf4">https://t.co/OUaGIVNzf4</a> <a href="https://t.co/QXs9A63465">pic.twitter.com/QXs9A63465</a></p><p>— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) <a href="https://twitter.com/khobi_price/status/1982693511955968452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>With 23 seconds left and the game basically over in favor of the Lakers, Reaves was fouled intentionally as the Kings, with their last gasp, tried to mount a comeback. He did end up swishing both free throws, making him just the fifth Laker player since 2000 to score over 50 points (joining LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Anthony Davis).</p><p>For as much as Reaves and Doncic love to clown each other, no one in the world is happier for the former than the latter after he willed the Lakers to a much-needed victory despite being shorthanded.</p><h2><b>Austin Reaves, Lakers lay the smack down from the foul line</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lakers-guard-Austin-Reaves-15-reacts-after-making-a-three.jpg"><figcaption>© Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Lakers were playing with house money on Sunday, and it was evident that they were playing like they had nothing to lose. Reaves was ultra-aggressive and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-austin-reaves-drops-the-mic-with-perfect-reaction-to-51-point-stunner">shot 22 free throws</a>, channeling his own inner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the process.</p><p>But as a team, the Lakers shot brilliantly from the foul line. They made 41 of their 46 freebies (89.1 percent), and it was more than enough to compensate for the Kings’ 30-point advantage on three-pointers (18 made 3s for Sacramento, just eight for LA).</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers star Austin Reaves’ Luka Doncic joke nearly backfires amid 51-point masterclass vs. Kings

Andrew Wiggins

Danny Green

Iman Shumpert

Jaylen Brown

Luka Dončić

Bradley Beal

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Victor Oladipo

De'Aaron Fox

Marc Gasol

1x All Star

4x All-NBA

2019-20 All-NBA

3x All Star

2018-19 ROY

2x All Star

2018-19 All-Rookie

3x All-NBA

2x All-NBA

4x All Star

5x All Star

2023-24 Scoring Champ

5x All-NBA

2023-24 WCF MVP

Dallas Mavericks

Los Angeles Lakers

Career

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1634309546238701571/

Q&A from @PlayOverwatch: If you were a hero in Overwatch, what role would you be and why? #Overwatch2_Partner 

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1628145788974149635/

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1626773028704243714/

Thankful to be playing in my 4th #NBAAllStar Game. Big 🙏 to my fans for voting. 

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1612579253874470912/

IT'S GAMEDAY #gofrogs #CFBPlayoff @TCUFootball @TCU_Athletics @Big12Conference 

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1609391985776795649/

Thank you for an amazing year!! Hvala 🙏#2022Recap 

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1609208832747503616/

🎯  Watch the full video w/@DudePerfect on YouTube! 

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1607471809691099136/

Q&A from @PlayOverwatch: Who do you main in #Overwatch2 ?? #Overwatch2_Partner 

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1604907530651664395/

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
46.0	11.5	8.5	0.5	1.0

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
46.0	11.5	8.5	0.5	1.0

Luka
Dončić

Latest Luka Doncic News

Lakers guard Austin Reaves’ reaction after seeing Luka Doncic’s finger goes viral

Lakers’ JJ Redick states the obvious amid LeBron James, Luka Doncic absences

Hawks’ Trae Young earns comparisons to both Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards from new teammates

Lakers’ Luka Doncic issued 60-point challenge to Austin Reaves, and then he nearly did it

Lakers star Austin Reaves’ Luka Doncic joke nearly backfires amid 51-point masterclass vs. Kings

Latest Luka Doncic Tweets