The Los Angeles Lakers got a major boost in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets as Austin Reaves made his return to the floor.
Reaves had been sidelined the past four weeks due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain, but came off the bench for Game 5. While Reaves’ return couldn’t get Los Angeles over the hump, the star guard noted he felt good physically back on the court so that’s a small victory for the group.
Offensive rust was to be expected from Reaves, but the whole team struggled to see anything go down. Reaves acknowledged he was a bit out of rhythm, but is looking forward to correcting things on Friday in Game 6.
“It helps when shots go in,” Reaves said. “I know ‘Bron had probably three or four in the first half that went in and out. I missed two easy layups, I missed two or three or good looks from three, one little midrange. But you make shots, you miss shots, and we’ll move on to Friday and go try to get a win in Houston.”
Reaves offered credit to Houston’s defense for giving Los Angeles trouble, but also pointed toward the team’s own ill-timed turnovers.
“I think it could go a little bit of both,” he said of great defense by the Rockets and poor offense by the Lakers. “In a lot of situations you can spark a run or you can kind of kill the run with one little mental mistake. That’s how they defend, they’ve done that all year.
“Pressure, play hard, so trying to dial that back a little bit. I think tonight was probably the first time all series we’ve shot more attempts at the basket than they did, so that’s a good sign. But like ‘Bron said, those couple of things here and there can flip a game like that.”
The past two Lakers losses have been marred by sloppy basketball, with far too many unforced turnovers being their undoing. The Rockets have also done a better job of closing out to outside shooters and forcing the purple and gold to finish over defenders.
While Los Angeles is technically ahead in the series, the momentum’s completely shifted in favor of a Houston team that will be ready to go for Game 6.
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Lakers head coach JJ Redick has to be glad Reaves is back because the team desperately needed more ball-handlers. Redick emphasized that ball-handling and downhill driving are sorely missed without his star guards, so Reaves’ return is a welcomed development.
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