The Los Angeles Lakers walked out of Toronto with a tense 123-120 win, yet the biggest story came from one of their most reliable young guards. Austin Reaves delivered the type of performance that shifts a season, lifting a short-handed Lakers squad while also drawing strong support from franchise icon Magic Johnson. The victory mattered, but the night also placed a fresh spotlight on Reaves’ rise as a central figure in the team’s push through the Western Conference standings.The Lakers entered the matchup missing Luka Doncic and saw LeBron James struggle with his shot, ending his long streak of double-digit scoring games. Reaves responded by taking control of the offense and attacking every possession with purpose. His calm playmaking, steady scoring bursts, and late-game poise helped the Lakers survive a Raptors team that had been nearly unbeatable at home.
Magic Johnson backs Austin Reaves after breakout night
Magic Johnson made his stance clear after watching Reaves dominate the game. The Hall of Famer praised the guard’s leadership in a tough environment and highlighted the impact of his stat line. “Austin Reaves continued his dominant play this season scoring 44 points with 11 assists to lead the Lakers to a 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors!” he wrote on X. “Reaves should definitely be playing in the NBA All-Star game this year!”Reaves’ night was built on steady control of the offense, especially in the second half. He scored 30 of his 44 points after the break and attacked Toronto’s defense with a mix of drives, pull-up jumpers and confident threes. The Raptors entered the game with an 8-2 home record and leaned on Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, yet Reaves carried the Lakers in every key stretch.
Austin Reaves strengthens his All-Star case
Reaves’ performance adds to a season that already stands out across the league. He is averaging 28.9 points, 6.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds while ranking among the league’s top scorers and most efficient guards. His production without Luka Doncic has been even stronger, with averages of 41.0 points and 10.0 assists in four games.National voices are also taking note. ESPN’s Zach Kram placed Reaves in his “On the Bubble” tier but still projected him to make the final Western Conference group. “If I had to pick the 12 West All-Stars today,” he said, listing Reaves among his selections.Reaves’ role becomes even more valuable when the Lakers face nights like Thursday. James scored eight points and said he focused on “playing the game the right way” after finding Rui Hachimura for the decisive three. The win improved the Lakers to their 16th victory of the season, keeping them near the top of the West.Also Read: LeBron James sacrifices his 1,297-game double-digit streak to deliver the winning assist and lift Lakers past Raptors
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