With 0.3 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers clinging to a one-point deficit, Austin Reaves caught the inbounds pass near the free-throw line, spun left, and rose for a 12-foot jumper that swished through the net as the buzzer sounded. The Target Center fell silent. The Los Angeles Lakers had just pulled off a 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 — a game that felt more like a thriller than a regular-season matchup. And it wasn’t just the shot. It was everything leading up to it.
When the Bench Became the Backbone
The Lakers entered this game without four of their five primary ballhandlers. LeBron James was out with rest, Luka Doncic sidelined by a lingering hamstring issue, and Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent — the latter expected to miss "a couple of weeks" with an ankle sprain — were both on the bench in street clothes. That left Austin Reaves as the de facto point guard, playmaker, and closer. He responded with 28 points and a career-high 16 assists, the kind of performance that turns role players into legends overnight.
He wasn’t alone. Jake LaRavia shot 10-for-11 from the field for 27 points, turning every catch-and-shoot opportunity into a dagger. DeAndre Ayton added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Dalton Knecht chipped in 15. Even Rui Hachimura, who had been mostly quiet all season, knocked down three clutch threes. The Lakers’ bench, normally a weakness, became their lifeline.
Minnesota’s Desperate Surge
But the Minnesota Timberwolves weren’t done. Down by 20 late in the third quarter, they unleashed a 14-2 run fueled by sheer will and free throws. Julius Randle — who had been quiet for three quarters — erupted for 11 points in the final 4:30, including a finger roll that put Minnesota ahead 115-114 with 10.2 seconds left. Jaden McDaniels added 30 points and seven rebounds, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (sometimes mislabeled as "Dillingham" in early transcripts) chipped in 21 points and five rebounds.
Minnesota shot 16 of 20 from the line in the fourth quarter alone — a stat that should have been impossible given how poorly they defended the arc. But they kept fighting. Even without Anthony Edwards, who was sidelined with a hamstring strain expected to keep him out "a week or two," the Timberwolves looked like a team that refused to quit.
The Buzzer-Beater That Redefined Reaves
The game-winning sequence was pure cinema. After Minnesota’s go-ahead basket, the Lakers called timeout. The inbounds play was simple: get the ball to Reaves. He received it at the top of the key, drove right, then spun back left into the paint. McDaniels closed hard, but Reaves elevated just enough, released the ball with his left hand, and watched it drop.
"Austin down the middle. He goes to win the game. To win the game. AR with the winner. AR doing what AR does," said the broadcast, capturing the moment perfectly. It wasn’t just a shot — it was the culmination of three straight games where Reaves had carried the team. He scored 51 against Sacramento on October 26. He dropped 41 against Portland two nights later. Now, he delivered the kind of clutch moment that defines careers.
What This Means for Both Teams
The Lakers’ win improved their record to 7-4, keeping them in the top half of the Western Conference despite missing two All-Stars and two key guards. Reaves, once considered a bench player, is now a focal point — and his chemistry with LaRavia and Ayton could become a new identity for this team.
For Minnesota, the loss stings, but it’s not a disaster. They showed they can compete without Edwards. Randle and McDaniels are forming a dangerous duo. The real concern? Their rebounding. They were outrebounded by double digits for much of the game — a glaring issue against a team without LeBron James or D’Angelo Russell.
What’s Next?
The Lakers face the Denver Nuggets on Friday, still without James or Doncic. If Reaves keeps this up, the league will start treating him as a true star. The Timberwolves host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday — a chance to prove their comeback wasn’t a fluke.
And for fans? They got more than a win. They got a moment. One shot. One player. One night where everything changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Austin Reaves manage to carry the Lakers with so many stars out?
With LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, and Gabe Vincent all sidelined, Reaves became the primary ballhandler and offensive engine. He averaged 46.7 points over his last three games — a stretch no other Laker has matched in over a decade. His 16 assists against Minnesota tied his career best, showing he’s not just a scorer but a true playmaker under pressure.
Why was Minnesota able to erase a 20-point lead?
The Timberwolves went 16-for-20 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on Lakers’ defensive fouls. Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels combined for 24 points in the final 5 minutes, while the Lakers’ rotation players struggled to contain Minnesota’s size. A lack of rim protection without Anthony Davis and a fatigue-induced lapse on defense allowed the comeback.
What’s the status of Anthony Edwards and other key injured players?
Anthony Edwards is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a hamstring strain. Gabe Vincent is out for at least two weeks with an ankle sprain, while LeBron James and Luka Doncic are listed as day-to-day. The Lakers are monitoring James’ minutes closely, and Doncic’s return remains uncertain as he continues rehabbing a lingering hamstring issue.
How does this win impact the Lakers’ playoff chances?
Despite missing four starters, the Lakers remain 7-4 and in the top six of the Western Conference. Reaves’ emergence as a reliable closer gives them a new identity — one less dependent on superstars. If they can maintain this bench depth and Reaves keeps performing at this level, they could be a dangerous 4th or 5th seed come April.
Was this the greatest buzzer-beater in Lakers history?
It’s too early to rank it among legends like Kobe’s 81-point game or Magic’s 1987 Game 6, but Reaves’ shot ranks among the most improbable in recent memory. No other Laker has hit a game-winner with zero stars on the floor since 2011. It’s the kind of moment that gets replayed for decades — especially when the team was down to its last viable option.
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