How Austin Reaves Pulled Off A Perfect Game-tying Missed Free Throw In Lakers' Win

Austin Reaves doesn’t believe that shot. But for illustration truthful galore of his diversion exploits, someway a cleanable missed free propulsion conscionable comes people to nan Lakers guard.

Reaves’ expertly executed missed free throw, violative rebound and difficult tying floater pinch 1.9 seconds remaining successful regularisation spurred nan Lakers to a thrilling 127-125 overtime win complete nan Denver Nuggets connected Saturday.

While Luka Doncic had 30 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and nan winning changeable successful overtime, Reaves had a team-high 32 points and nan biggest rebound of nan game.

With nan Lakers down by 3 pinch 5.2 seconds left, Reaves was fouled and made nan first free throw. He said he was “not very” assured erstwhile he received instructions to miss nan second.

Coach JJ Redick group nan play up to miss it to nan correct broadside because that was expected to beryllium nan broadside pinch conscionable 1 defender. When only Nikola Jokic lined up to Reaves’ left, he switched nan plan.

“I thought if I threw it accelerated enough, that Jokic wouldn’t person nan clip to get his hands up to drawback nan ball,” Reaves said.

Reaves chucked up a statement thrust that ricocheted disconnected nan beforehand of nan rim and toward his left. Deandre Ayton screened Jokic distant from nan rebound, Reaves chased it down, turned, drove baseline and tossed up a one-legged floater that went in. The crippled went to overtime aft Denver defender Jamal Murray’s half-court dream bounced disconnected nan backboard astatine nan buzzer.

“That execution was perfection,” said Doncic, who clenched some fists erstwhile Reaves’ changeable dropped softly done nan net.

No 1 practices missed free throws, said LeBron James, who had 17 points, 5 assists and 1 clutch full-extension dive to prevention a loose shot successful nan 4th quarter. The unfamiliarity pinch nan play makes it that overmuch harder to execute.

But Reaves, who excels astatine astir each athletics he attempts, including golf, bowling, tennis, pickleball and array tennis, conscionable has awesome touch, Redick said pinch a shrug.

Reaves said he did propulsion disconnected a akin feat this summertime successful a pick-up style, five-minute crippled erstwhile he collected his ain missed free propulsion and deed a reverse layup to necktie it.

“That’s 1 successful a 100 successful nan NBA,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said.

Those likelihood couldn’t beryllium overmuch longer than nan ones Reaves already hit to get to this point.

Lakers defender Austin Reaves celebrates during nan Lakers’ triumph complete nan Denver Nuggets connected Saturday night.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The under-recruited, undrafted Arkansas native is successful nan midst of a profession year. He is averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He was bound to make his first All-Star Game earlier being sidelined for much than a period because of a calf injury. With nan Lakers surging up nan Western Conference, moving into 3rd spot Saturday pinch their 5th consecutive triumph and their eighth successful nan past 9 games, Reaves has 3 consecutive 30-point games. He is shooting 55.8% from nan section successful nan past 4 games, a agelong that included important wins complete playoff contenders successful nan New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and nan Nuggets.

Reaves became nan 46th undrafted subordinate successful NBA history to scope 5,000 profession points this week, eclipsing nan people successful Thursday’s triumph complete nan Chicago Bulls. Teammates including James and Doncic count Reaves among their peers deserving of prima status. Reaves balks astatine nan idea.

“Still feels weird,” Reaves said connected Thursday of being considered a “star.” “I evidently person illusion assurance successful myself erstwhile it comes to basketball. But erstwhile nan game’s complete and I’ve sewage to spell location and deliberation astir it, I don’t really deliberation of myself successful nan class of immoderate of these different guys. But I conscionable bask playing basketball, playing nan correct measurement and continuing to get better. I really conscionable enactment low-key and bent retired by myself.”

Reaves is “a elemental guy,” Redick said. He likes to golf, he likes to hoop — sometimes successful that circumstantial bid — and he likes his family. Reaves’ look lights up anytime personification brings up his niece Ruby, who was calved soon earlier nan play started.

But Redick knows there’s a “wonderful duality to Austin.” He’s a quiet state boy. He’s besides tin of dropping 51 points successful a crippled like he did against nan Sacramento Kings earlier this season. And he’s assured capable to outcry “I’m him” aft making a clutch three-pointer successful nan playoffs.

After pulling disconnected different iconic play Saturday, Reaves had a much humble message.

“I emotion you,” Reaves said to nan hoops successful his hands arsenic nan crippled went to overtime. “I emotion you.”