LOS ANGELES — Guard Austin Reaves placed responsibility on the Los Angeles Lakers roster, not the coaching staff, for the team’s ongoing third-quarter struggles after Tuesday’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors.
On Oct. 21, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers trailed by just one point at halftime before being outscored 19–4 to begin the third period. The Warriors ultimately handed Los Angeles a 10-point defeat.
Reaves finished with 26 points, nine assists and five turnovers, yet the postgame discussion centered on the Lakers’ longtime inability to emerge from the locker room effectively.
“That’s on us,” Reaves says
“We’ve just been bad in the third quarter,” Reaves told reporters. “It’s been that way the last couple of years. We have to come out with more energy. That’s on us players, not on the coaches. They give us the answers to the test, and we didn’t execute.”
The fourth-year guard added that limited time together has affected rhythm and communication. “We haven’t had a lot of time as a complete group, and we’re still not complete,” he said. “You learn those little things on the fly.”
Turnovers and missed shots compound issues
Los Angeles committed 19 turnovers and shot poorly from both the free-throw line and three-point range. Reaves acknowledged his own miscues, saying, “I led the group tonight in turnovers, so point the finger at me.”
Some of those turnovers stemmed from pick-and-roll miscommunications with new center Deandre Ayton. Ayton later admitted his screening style can be confusing for both Reaves and Luka Dončić, another recent addition.
The Lakers will look to correct their third-quarter lapses as they continue the opening week of the 2025-26 season.
Source: Lakers Nation
