NBA Notes: Lakers, Austin Reaves, Thunder, Isaiah Joe, Rockets

Lakers

Austin Reaves has looked like a go-to guy. He’s averaged 31.1 points with 9.3 assists in his past seven games. LeBron James is still out with sciatica, so someone had to grab the wheel.

Reaves has done that, and the Lakers are 2-1 in games where he’s been the clear No. 1 option.

“It’s as much Austin’s team as it is LeBron’s team or Luka’s team,” coach JJ Redick told reporters, per ESPN.

Redick said he told Reaves he’s no longer “the undrafted guy.” He’s one of the guys now. Reaves is playing like it. There is even chatter that maybe, when James returns, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer becomes more of a play finisher.

Thunder

The Thunder have Isaiah Joe back, and the offense suddenly looks like last year again, wrote Ross Lovelace of SI.com. Over his three games since returning, OKC is launching 45 threes per night and hitting 40 percent.

“All I gotta do is knock down the shot,” Joe told reporters after Tuesday’s win over the Clippers.

Coach Mark Daigneault loves Joe’s screening and transition work, too. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has gone 8-of-16 from deep since Joe returned. OKC is now up to 33.3 percent on threes overall after being near the bottom the first week of the season.

So, while Joe doesn’t get the press clippings, he’s another reason the defending champs look every bit as good as last season.

Rockets

The Rockets keep bombing away. Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Kevin Durant are leading the long-range charge, and Houston has turned into one of the league’s better offenses, writes Trenton Whiting of SI.com.

Alperen Sengun has been a big part of it, facilitating and playing off Durant and Amen Thompson.

Houston is also getting points inside with those double-big looks. And when they don’t shoot well, they usually rebound it.

The offense still has dips at times, but the roster is built to keep pressure on defenses. The Rockets have leveled up both ends so far this season.