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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a Game 1 loss to the reigning NBA-champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, surrendering an 0-1 series deficit with a 108-90 final score.
41-year-old NBA veteran LeBron James put forth an excellent performance for the Lakers, recording a game-high 27 points against OKC's vaunted defense. But, no other Los Angeles player scored more than 18 points in the Game 1 loss.
Austin Reaves struggled mightily in the series-opening contest, notching just eight points on 3/16 shooting from the field and 0/5 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. He also had a team-high four turnovers.
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If the Lakers want any hope to tie the series up at 1-1 heading back to Los Angeles, Reaves needs to step it up in the scoring department.
ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins put the pressure on Reaves to perform in Game 2.
"Austin Reaves, he has to show up," Perkins said. "He has to show up. ... Can you deliver, Austin Reaves? [LeBron James] needs you."
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Reaves suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain during a loss to the Thunder on April 2. He missed the remainder of the regular season and finally returned to the court in Game 5 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
Through two games in the first round, Reaves averaged 18.5 points, 4 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.
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"He was out a month," James said when asked about Reaves' tough shooting night, via ESPN. "We know he's going to make shots and make plays, but that's tough. ... Obviously we're trying to fast-track him, getting back on the floor and doing the things that he was doing before the injury. But he was out a month, so rightfully so, if he has some games where he's missing shots or whatever the case may be.
"His presence alone helps us no matter what."
Game 2 will tipoff at 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.
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