Austin Reaves delivered a 12-foot game-winning jumper in the final seconds to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115 on Wednesday night at the Target Center. Reaves finished with 28 points and matched his career-high with 16 assists, orchestrating the offense in the absence of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Reaves described the moment as especially meaningful given past experiences in Minnesota. “Last time we were in this building, I had a shot to tie it in the corner in the playoffs and missed. Let me tell you, that feeling sucks,” he said. The guard emphasized the importance of team support in high-pressure moments.
“I wouldn’t say comfortable, nothing’s comfortable in the NBA anymore,” Reaves added, reflecting on Minnesota’s late 14-2 run that gave the Wolves a brief lead with 10 seconds remaining. He credited teammates like Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton for contributing to the win, saying, “We wouldn’t have been in that position if it wasn’t for everybody chipping in tonight.”
Reaves walked through the decisive play, noting how he navigated Rudy Gobert’s defense to find a clear shot. “With him running full speed towards me and me running towards him, I had the edge on being able to go both ways… I couldn’t get all the way to the rim and just got to a good spot and put up a go floater,” he explained.
The guard also addressed the added responsibilities of leading the team without LeBron James and Luka Doncic. “It’s different responsibilities… I have to play and conduct myself in a way that keeps the energy high, keeps the spirit high,” Reaves said. He stressed the importance of remaining calm and confident while guiding his teammates in crucial moments.
LaRavia had a standout performance with 27 points on 10-for-11 shooting, and Ayton added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Reaves acknowledged the collective effort, noting that success was the result of contributions across the roster.
With the victory, the Lakers improved to 3-2 and aim to carry the momentum into a Friday matchup at Memphis, while Minnesota drops to 2-3 and will try to rebound at Charlotte on Saturday.
