Austin Reaves delivered a dramatic game-winning buzzer-beater to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, finishing with 28 points and 16 assists in a standout performance. Despite the Lakers playing without key stars such as LeBron James and Luka Dončić, Reaves stepped into the spotlight and sealed the win with a floater from 12 feet as time expired.
The Timberwolves had mounted a ferocious comeback, erasing an eight-point Lakers lead in the final minutes and taking a one-point advantage with 10.2 seconds remaining before Reaves’ heroics halted their rally. Meanwhile, Jake LaRavia supported the effort with 27 points on 10-for-11 shooting, while Minnesota’s Julius Randle led the Wolves with 33 points.
In light of the injury-ridden Lakers roster, the win highlights Reaves’ emergence as a leader and clutch performer. Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Reaves for rising to the occasion, saying the guard has established himself as “a bad dude” and the kind of go-to player the team needs. With the victory, Los Angeles improved to 3-2 early in the season and reinforced hope that the roster can prevail even while depleted.
