Austin Reaves Says Luka Doncic Partnership Has Quickly Become Lakers’ Offensive Engine
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The Los Angeles Lakers are riding a seven-game winning streak and a 15-4 start largely because of the immediate chemistry between guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Speaking after Sunday night’s 133-117 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, Reaves explained why the backcourt fit has been “seamless.”
Backcourt Producing League-Leading Numbers
Doncic tops the NBA in scoring at 35.1 points per game, while Reaves ranks ninth with 28.8. Their combined 63.9 points per contest are more than 10 ahead of the next-closest duo, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The pair’s efficiency has lifted Los Angeles to fifth in offensive rating and second in true shooting percentage.
Reaves on Doncic’s Early Impact
“Luka scored 20 in the first quarter,” Reaves noted. “He made a lot of shots, made a lot of plays, and then everybody did a good job taking care of the ball—besides myself.” Reaves blamed his five turnovers for preventing an even larger total. “If I take care of the ball, we probably have four turnovers and might have scored 145, but the first quarter was good. Luka’s one of the best first-quarter players. He gets our offense rolling.”
How the Duo Creates Space
Reaves credited Doncic’s “gravity” for opening the floor: “He draws a lot of attention, and then I’m able to play advantage basketball on the backside. Once you blitz him, you have advantage basketball. We like our chances.” Reaves added that the Lakers still missed several clean looks despite putting up 133 points and believes “this offense can go to another level.”
Coach Redick Seeks Greater Balance
First-year head coach JJ Redick praised the offensive output yet highlighted areas for improvement. While the Lakers hold the league’s fifth-best offense, they rank 17th in defense. Their net rating of 4.1 is 12th overall, and the team sits 23rd in turnover rate and 21st in assist-to-turnover ratio. Redick emphasized the need to tighten those areas even after the decisive win over a short-handed Pelicans squad.
Los Angeles enters December second in the Western Conference, tracking toward a 65-win pace, with Doncic and Reaves continuing to headline one of the NBA’s most potent attacks.
Source: Lakers Nation
