It cost a final second tip-in from LeBron James for the Lakers on Wednesday to beat the pacers. The team demolished from Indiana with a victory of 120-119. Los Angeles is 44-28 this season.
After the game, ESPN Studio analyst and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins went on Sports Center. Perkins called Lakers SG Austin the “X-Factor” of the team for the play-offs. Can Reaves raise his game in the late season for the Lakers?
Kenrick Perkins believes that Austin Reaves is the ‘X-Factor’ of Lakers in the play-offs
“If the Lakers start making a deep run in the late season, this will be due to games such as these behind Austin Reaves.” @Kendrickperkins discusses why he thinks Reaves is the X-factor for the Lakers 💪 pic.twitter.com/GGMelkwteb
– Sports Center (@sportscenter) March 27, 2025
The Handelsdeadline of 2024-25 changed the process of the Lakers’ season. Los Angeles was (+4000) via opportunities via NBA Sportsbook Betonline before taking over Luka Doncic. Those opportunities quickly shifted to (+1800) on arrival of Luka in LA. Through 19 games with the Lakers, Los Angeles is now (+900) to win the NBA final. After the victory of the Lakers on Wednesday evening, Kendrick Perkins of ESPN had an intriguing argument.
He called Austin Reaves the “X-Factor” of the Lakers for the play-offs. Luka Doncic and LeBron James are consistent players for Los Angeles. Perkins believes that Reaves can be the player who brings the Lakers to a different level. Reaves did not go from Arkansas and is in his fourth professional season. His 64 starts in 2024-25 is most of his career in one season. In addition, his (19.7) points, (4.5) rebounds, (5.9) assists and (1.1) Steals per game are all new career heights.
Because Luka Doncic married in LA, Reaves is on average (21.2) points per match. He scored 22+ points in seven of his last eight games for the Lakers. If Reaves can continue this type of production, the Lakers have a legitimate chance of winning the final. Having three players who can all score 20+ points per match in the evening would be difficult to beat in the late season. Especially when two of those players are Luka Doncic and LeBron James. We will see how far the Lakers can get in the play -offs of 2025.
