Austin Reaves Urges Lakers to ‘Control the Controllables’ Amid Three-Game Slide
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The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their third straight game Thursday night, falling 113-110 to a Phoenix Suns squad that was without its two top scorers. Guard Austin Reaves had a chance to force overtime but missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer.
With the losing streak threatening the team’s position in the Western Conference standings—and raising the possibility of a Play-In Tournament appearance—Reaves said the Lakers must focus on areas they can directly manage.
Reaves on fixing the skid
“Control the controllables,” Reaves told Spectrum SportsNet after the game. “There’s a handful of plays tonight that I feel like, if we are better, it could swing a game. Every possession matters … one little mistake can ignite a crowd, ignite a team, whatever it may be.”
The 25-year-old guard pointed to turnovers, missed box-outs and loose balls as recurring issues that have allowed opponents to seize momentum during key stretches. He added that effort and intensity—two elements entirely in the players’ hands—must improve each time the Lakers step on the floor.
Frustration mounting
Reaves acknowledged his frustration level is “very high” after the club’s latest defeat. The Lakers have now lost to multiple short-handed opponents during the skid, deepening concerns as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Los Angeles will look to halt the slide in its next outing, where renewed focus on the “controllables” will be central to any turnaround.
Source: Lakers Nation
