LOS ANGELES – After a late turnover-related mistake that gave the LA Clippers a chance to tie the game, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged with a 125-122 win after Nicolas Batum missed a 3-point attempt. The entire game was a high-scoring affair, but according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the biggest play of the game came from Austin Reaves on the defensive end.
When the Clippers trailed by three, 118–115, with less than two minutes left in the game, Benedict Mathurin attacked the basket to cut the Lakers’ lead. But Austin Reaves beat him on the spot, putting a charge on the game and giving the Lakers some momentary relief.
Luka Doncic missed a clutch floater, and Austin Reeves took a charge from Benedict Mathurin at the other end, fouled out (the challenge was not successful).
with replay pic.twitter.com/mVKIwNXMhX
– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 21 February 2026
Reaves tried to draw another charge that was not called, and according to JJ Redick it would have been a game-defining play if it had gone the Lakers’ way.
“I thought the charge was the play of the game,” Reddick said after the win. “Frankly, the other allegation was that if they had made the right call the game would have been played, which they didn’t…it was a huge play given the circumstances.”
The Clippers game was Reaves’ first game in the starting lineup since he returned from a calf injury. He was coming off the bench under a one-minute ban. At Lakers practice on Thursday afternoon, Redick acknowledged that Reaves will no longer be on a minutes restriction.
Reeves had another All-Star caliber effort with 29 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes. He shot a perfect 9 of 15 from the field, 4 of 5 from the 3-point line, and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line.
“He was fantastic tonight,” Redick said. “Other than the two turnovers there and the third turnover in traffic, they just played a super efficient night.”
Coming into Friday’s game, Reeves had appeared in 28 games this season, a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Reeves was on pace to make his first All-Star appearance, but his unfortunate calf injury hindered his chances.
The Lakers currently have two more games to play at home, starting with a showdown against their historic rival at the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday before heading out on the road to close out the month.
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