Lakers takeaways: Nick Smith Jr. shines with Austin Reaves sidelined

Nick Smith Jr. casually placed his new souvenir under the press conference table. This game ball will probably go to his mother.

Smith earned it on Sunday with a stellar performance off the bench while filling in for the injured Reaves. The 21-year-old guard on a two-way contract scored 21 points on eight-of-14 shooting with three rebounds and an assist. He made five three-pointers, including his first four from beyond the arc while starting seven of seven from the field.

With Reaves out for at least a month due to a grade two strain in his left calf, Smith will be in line for more consistent minutes, Redick said before the game. Especially with fellow forward Gabe Vincent missing his fourth game with a back injury on Sunday, the Lakers need Smith’s ball-handling and shiftiness alongside James and Doncic.

But to make up for the loss of their second-leading scorer, the Lakers desperately need Smith’s scoring.

“That’s why we wanted him on the Lakers and in our program, because we knew he could score,” Redick said. “I like it when he’s aggressive. … If he could just do that within our structure, a lot of times good things would happen.”

Smith has already demonstrated his scoring potential in big moments. The former first-round pick who signed with the Lakers a day before the start of training camp saved the team with 25 points in Portland in a game without James, Doncic or Reaves. He had 12 points in 14 minutes off the bench against Toronto when the Lakers survived thanks to a Rui Hachimura three-point basket.

“We trust him,” Redick said before the game.

After being waived by the Charlotte Hornets, Smith admitted he hasn’t had this level of trust from a coaching staff “in a long time.” Having it “means everything,” he added.

“It’s a different step, you know, where I come from, and I understand that,” Smith said. “So I just want to make sure I’m ready. … I’m just blessed to be here, I just have the opportunity to play with the Lakers and stuff like that, even being in the league. A lot of guys where I come from would love to be in that situation.”