Austin Reaves's Big Night in Lakers' Win Had LeBron James Fired Up

The performance warranted some king-like praise.

The Lakers picked up a crucial win over the Magic on Sunday night, with Austin Reaves surprisingly leading the charge for Los Angeles. With LeBron James still on the mend, the 38-year-old expressed his excitement for his teammate on Twitter after his huge night.

James, who missed his 11th consecutive game with a foot injury, called Reaves a "BAD MUTHA" and tweeted a slew of emojis at the Lakers' 24-year-old after his career night. 

Reaves, who came off the bench, led all scorers with a career-high 35 points. He shot 9-of-14 from the field and made 16-of-18 free throw attempts on the night, while adding six rebounds and six assists. He did all that in just 30 minutes, providing more than a spark for the team when called upon.  

AR YOU A BAD MUTHA...SHUT YO MOUTH!!! You toooooo TOUGH!! 🔥🔥🔥🫡👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 20, 2023

Clearly, James could not be happier about Reaves's big night, which will go a long way toward keeping the Lakers in the playoff race. 

Following Sunday's 111–105 win, Los Angeles vaulted ahead of the Jazz in the Western Conference for the final seed in the NBA’s play-in tournament. With 10 games left on the schedule, and recent heartbreaking losses against the Mavericks and Rockets, getting a win over the Magic was vital for the Lakers. 

Reaves himself opened up after the win, expressing how surreal to put on that type of clinic for the team he grew up supporting.

"I grew up a Lakers fan... it's surreal."

Austin Reaves on overcoming adversity to hoop in the NBA 🗣️

He dropped a career-high 35 PTS tonight. pic.twitter.com/6XVlb33Kvo

— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2023

It can only help to have the support of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.