With Dončić sidelined due to injury along with almost 60% of the total Laker payroll against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, Austin Reaves exploded for the best game of his career: 51 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and a badly-needed 127-120 victory with Dončić set to miss at least a week.

The Los Angeles Lakers have no long-term concern about Luka Dončić‘s injuries, according to NBA reporter Dan Woike of The Athletic. Dončić has a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion.

The friendly banter between Los Angeles Lakers teammates Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić continued after Reaves went off for 51 points in Sunday's 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers will rely more heavily on Dončić in the early going with LeBron James on the shelf due to sciatica. James is reportedly targeting a mid-November season debut, which gives Dončić about a month of runway as the unquestioned leader of the Lakers' lineup.

Without LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the lineup, Austin Reaves stepped up for the Lakers Sunday night, with 51 points, 22 rebounds and 9 assists.

Luka Dončić's MVP-like night gives the Lakers their first win of season over Timberwolves with 49 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially entered their Luka Dončić era after acquiring him last February in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. Throughout the summer, there was uncertainty about how the Lakers planned to build around him, but one thing was clear — Dončić wants to win now.