Austin Reaves pointed to discipline, communication, and possession control as the foundation of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 98-78 Game 6 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night at Toyota Center.
He explained the Lakers’ approach was rooted in preparation and familiarity with Houston’s offensive patterns. “Just locking into schemes, personnel. When you play a team so many times, you kind of know exactly what to expect.”
Reaves highlighted possession-by-possession execution as a key factor in limiting second chances. “Playing hard every single possession, finishing every possession with a defensive rebound,” he said. “Not giving them second chance opportunities is what they thrive on.”
Houston entered the matchup as one of the league’s most aggressive offensive rebounding teams, but Los Angeles controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 54-45 and limiting the Rockets to just eight offensive boards.
Reaves also pointed to the Lakers’ defensive consistency across the series as the deciding factor. “We did a really good job of all that tonight,” he said, referencing the team’s late-series adjustments and attention to detail.
Los Angeles also made schematic changes entering Game 5, including a defensive tweak against Alperen Sengun that carried into the closeout win. Reaves credited the collective buy-in across the roster.
“The adjustment we made going into game five… those guys were just phenomenal defensively and really did a great job of protecting the rim,” he said.
Reaves also spoke about his personal recovery process after returning from injury during the postseason stretch. “A lot of treatment. A lot of treatment,” he said, adding that he pushed through an intense rehab routine to return in time for the series.
He also praised the internal leadership of the Lakers’ veteran core, particularly LeBron James, who finished Game 6 with 28 points. “You’re insane,” Reaves said he told James after the game. “The stuff that you’re doing is not normal.”
Reaves also credited Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart for their impact beyond scoring, pointing to physicality, communication, and defensive versatility as defining factors in the series win.
With the Lakers advancing to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, Reaves stressed that adversity earlier in the season helped shape their response in elimination moments.
“Just go play basketball the way that you’ve always played basketball,” he said, reflecting on how the team steadied itself after a turbulent stretch.
The Lakers’ defensive identity ultimately dictated the outcome, holding Houston to a season-low 78 points and closing the series with authority.
