Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves Showcase Chemistry in Lakers' Preseason Victory
The connection between Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves was on full display during the Lakers' 114-110 preseason win against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena. This duo demonstrated why they are expected to be key leaders for the team this season.
The first play of the game perfectly illustrated their teamwork: Reaves passed to Doncic, who drove to the basket, scored, and drew a foul. Both players logged 25 minutes on the court, with Doncic scoring 23 points on six-for-16 shooting, while Reaves contributed eight points, eight assists, and five rebounds despite going two-for-seven from the field.
Doncic's standout moment came in the second quarter when he hit a long 31-foot, one-legged three-pointer off a pass from Sandro Mamukelashvili, who scored 19 points himself. Reaves impressed late in the second quarter by using a hesitation move to freeze defender Emanuel Sharp before finishing with a smooth baseline layup.
Lakers coach JJ Redick commented on their synergy: "I think there's good chemistry with each other. They like playing together. Having them both on the floor means there are automatically two ballhandlers out there, which is an underrated advantage in today's NBA."
Injury Updates
Several Lakers players missed the game due to injuries. Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton sat out their third straight preseason match, while Ziaire Williams missed his second. Cameron Carr, Dalton Knecht, and Arthur Kaluma also did not play.
Kessler, acquired from the Utah Jazz, is recovering from a finger injury after hitting the backboard in practice. Coach Redick noted, "We need to check in tomorrow. It’s not concerning. He will participate in the preseason." Williams experienced some soreness, but it’s not considered serious.
Key Player Stats vs Sacramento Kings
- Luka Doncic: 23 points, 6-for-16 shooting, 25 minutes played
- Austin Reaves: 8 points, 2-for-7 shooting, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 25 minutes played
- Sandro Mamukelashvili: 19 points
