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The Lakers improved to 5-2 on the young season with a 131-125 win over the Raptors on Sunday night. The score is not indicative of how much Los Angeles controlled the game, which set in motion the most hysterical moment of the game.
When Austin Reaves subbed out with 1:43 remaining in the Lakers’ eventual win over the Raptors, he did so with clear intentions of not returning to the game.
The biggest tell: The Lakers star guard gave his signature headband to a fan sitting behind the team’s bench, with Reaves expecting to watch the remainder of the game from the sidelines.
That didn’t come to fruition as planned.
With their end-of-bench players in the game, the Lakers’ lead was cut from 15 points with 1:24 left to single digits within 20 seconds of game time.
Coach JJ Redick had seen enough from the reserves when Jaden Bradley converted the and-1 layup that trimmed the Raptors’ deficit to six points with 44 seconds left (and five points after making the free throw), deciding to sub his main rotation players back in to close the game out.
Which meant that Reaves had to retrieve his headband as he, Matisse Thybulle, Walker Kessler and Luka Dončić all subbed back in the game with 44 seconds left to secure the victory.
Luckily for Reaves, it didn’t appear the fan had any issues with handing the headband back over.
With Redick saying he won’t make this mistake again, subbing in players if they aren’t ready to play late in games, it appears to be unlikely that the 6-foot-5 guard will be in this position again.
But in case it does, Reaves better hold onto his headband until the game’s officially over.
