Austin Reaves said on Apr. 4 that he takes responsibility for the Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles in their recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the team lost by 43 points. The Lakers fell behind early, trailing by 23 points after the first quarter and by 31 at halftime.
The loss is significant as it comes during a crucial period for playoff positioning. The Lakers had previously shown strong form in March with a record of 15-2 and wins over several playoff teams, but this defeat served as what was described as a ‘rude awakening.’
Reaves led the team with 15 points but acknowledged his mistakes, especially at the start of the game. “I did a poor job starting the game,” Reaves said on Spectrum SportsNet. “I had a couple turnovers back-to-back and think I might’ve had four in the first quarter. I just gotta do better to give us a better opportunity at the start.”
Despite scoring eight points in the opening quarter and making both three-point attempts, Reaves committed four turnovers that contributed to Oklahoma City’s early lead. The team as a whole finished with eight turnovers in just that first period.
Reflecting on what many considered an important test for their postseason readiness, Reaves did not hold back about how tough it was to lose so decisively: “They beat the [expletive] out of us,” he said. “They’re the defending champs. We’ve got to be better, I don’t know. Losing always sucks. Doesn’t matter if you lose by one or 50, a loss is a loss. That’s kinda how I look at it.”
Looking ahead, Reaves indicated that despite dealing with a back injury during the contest, he does not believe it will be serious moving forward and expects to play in upcoming games against Oklahoma City.
