Austin Reaves made his return to the court after recovering from an injury, but it was a night to forget for the Los Angeles Lakers guard. In the first game of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Reaves struggled mightily, contributing to a lopsided 108-90 defeat.
The 25-year-old guard's performance was historically poor. Reaves managed to score only a single point in the contest, tying an unfortunate franchise record that had stood for 35 years. The last Lakers player to be held to such a low point total in a playoff game was in 1989, a mark that now stands as an anti-record Reaves would rather not have associated with his name.
Coming off an injury, Reaves was expected to provide a spark for the Lakers, who needed his scoring and playmaking against a young and athletic Thunder team. However, he finished with just one point on 0-of-7 shooting from the field, missing all four of his three-point attempts. He also recorded two rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes of action, but his offensive struggles were glaring.
The Lakers as a team were outplayed from the start. Oklahoma City seized control early, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never looking back. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, while the Lakers' star duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 48 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
Reaves' night was particularly tough given the context. After missing several games with a strained hamstring, he was inserted back into the starting lineup, but the lack of rhythm was evident. His lone point came from a free throw, and he failed to convert any of his field goal attempts.
The Lakers now face an 0-1 hole in the best-of-seven series. With Game 2 on the horizon, Reaves and the team will need to quickly regroup. For Reaves, it's about putting this performance behind him and rediscovering the form that made him a key contributor during the regular season.
While one game does not define a series, the Lakers are aware that they cannot afford another subpar performance from Reaves if they hope to advance. The pressure is on for the supporting cast to step up around James and Davis.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.