After taking a 3-1 lead over the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers had an immense opportunity.
With one more win, they would advance to the Western Conference Finals for just the second time since 2010, therefore giving them a real shot at winning it all.
But first, they had to knock off Stephen Curry and company.
Los Angeles failed to do so in Game 5 when it lost 121-106. It returned home for what was seen as a virtual must-win Game 6, and Austin Reaves would help make sure it prevailed.
He went 7-of-12 overall and 4-of-5 from 3-point range, which included a midcourt heave just before the first-half buzzer, to score 23 points to go along with six assists and five rebounds. The Lakers blew out Golden State 122-101, and there was never any doubt that they were the better team.
Reaves had recently gone through a mini-slump dating back to late in the first round, and this game reinforced the fact that he had broken out of that slump.
