Austin Reaves’ Game 1 performance vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder has now entered the record books, but for all the wrong reasons.
The Los Angeles Lakers were already under pressure heading into the series, but a heavy loss in the opener only intensified scrutiny on their supporting cast.
While LeBron James delivered, others struggled to match the moment. Reaves, in particular, found himself at the center of attention after a night where nothing seemed to fall.
And the numbers behind it made the performance even more shocking.
Austin Reaves sets unwanted Lakers playoff record with poor shooting night
As highlighted via ESPN Insights on X, Reaves’ outing was historically inefficient.
“Austin Reaves’ 18.8 FG% in Game 1 was the lowest by any Laker in a playoff game over the last 35 years (min. 15 FGA),” ESPN reported.
The stat reflects just how difficult the night was. Reaves finished 3-for-16 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, struggling to find any rhythm offensively.
For a player who has built a reputation on efficiency and timely scoring, the drop-off stood out immediately.
What went wrong for Austin Reaves against OKC in Game 1
The struggles were not just about missed shots. Oklahoma City’s defense played a major role in disrupting Reaves from the start.
The Thunder applied constant perimeter pressure, forcing him into tough, contested looks while also generating four turnovers in his 36 minutes on the floor.
Even when he managed to get past his defender, interior presence from Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein made finishing at the rim extremely difficult.
This was only Reaves’ third game back after a Grade 2 oblique strain, and he has been trying to regain rhythm in a high-pressure playoff environment.
That lack of rhythm showed. He went 0-for-10 on contested shots and finished with just eight points, alongside six assists, five rebounds, and four turnovers in the Lakers’ 108-90 loss.
With Luka Doncic sidelined, Reaves was also asked to take on a larger offensive role, allowing OKC to key in on him defensively.
All of it combined into one of the roughest playoff performances of his career. The expectation now is simple: respond in Game 2.
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