Austin Reaves scored 29 points on October 25, 2026, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 3-0 start after defeating the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The victory showcased the early-season resilience of JJ Redick's squad. Facing an early deficit, the Lakers leaned on depth and ball movement to secure the road win. Reaves sparked the turnaround during a high-scoring individual surge, overshadowing a massive night from opposing star Luka Doncic and cementing Los Angeles atop the early standings.
The visitors struggled immediately, falling into an 18-point deficit in the first quarter as Utah executed its offense cleanly. Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams applied early defensive pressure, while Matisse Thybulle and Sandro Mamukelashvili anchored the paint for the hosts.
Reaves shifted the game's momentum in the second quarter by netting 15 of his 29 points. He repeatedly attacked gaps in the defense, creating open looks for teammates.
Overcoming Early Deficits
"It’s just make the right play, it’s simple," Reaves said regarding the tactical adjustment during the opening half.
Despite a stellar 52-point performance by Doncic, Utah failed to contain the Los Angeles perimeter attack down the stretch. Keyonte George added playmaking sparks for the Jazz, but foul trouble and defensive breakdowns in the fourth quarter undermined their efforts.
Building Team Chemistry
Reaves emphasized that unselfishness drives the current roster's success. The team features versatile rotation options, including Jake LaRavia, Quentin Grimes, Adou Thiero, and Cameron Carr, requiring constant adjustments from the coaching staff.
"You talk about it all the time and it’s something that my parents and my brother taught me growing up was, you play the game the right way, the game is gonna reward you," Reaves said.
Reaves pointed to the absence of locker room friction as a primary catalyst for the unbeaten start. "That’s, I think, the beautiful thing about our team is there’s no egos, there’s no anything. You just wanna win basketball games and however that happens is the main thing," he noted.