Lakers Edge Timberwolves in Thrilling Victory Despite Missing Stars

In a nail-biting finish that had fans on their feet, the Los Angeles Lakers secured their third win of the season with a dramatic 116-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. What made this triumph even more remarkable was the absence of superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic, both sidelined with minor injuries. The win improved the Lakers’ record to 3-2, but the real story of the night was the continued emergence of Austin Reaves as a genuine star in his own right. The former undrafted guard has transformed from role player to team leader, stepping up precisely when the Lakers needed him most. As the final seconds ticked down, with the pressure mounting and the game hanging in the balance, it was Reaves who took matters into his own hands, driving into the paint and connecting on a runner at the buzzer to seal the victory in spectacular fashion.

Austin Reaves’ game-winning heroics were just the capstone to what has been a historic start to his season. Finishing the night with 28 points and 16 assists, Reaves displayed both scoring prowess and playmaking ability that has become his signature during this early stretch of games. This performance wasn’t an outlier but rather continued a remarkable streak—Reaves has now scored 25 or more points in each of the Lakers’ first five games this season, including a jaw-dropping 51-point explosion against the Sacramento Kings and a 41-point effort in a narrow loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. His consistent excellence has placed him in rarefied air within the storied Lakers franchise; he’s become the first Laker to begin a season with five consecutive 25-plus point games since the late Kobe Bryant accomplished this feat back in 2005. For a player who went undrafted just a few years ago, the comparisons to one of basketball’s all-time greats speak volumes about his meteoric rise.

The victory wasn’t without its challenges, as the Lakers nearly let the game slip away after building a comfortable double-digit lead in the second half. As momentum shifted and the Timberwolves mounted their comeback, the moment called for leadership—something Reaves provided in abundance. “Everybody is looking at me, and in those situations, you have to be calm, confident, and lead your guys through it,” Reaves explained after the game, demonstrating a maturity that belies his relatively short NBA career. “We were up about 10 late, and they went on a run. It’s hard not to kind of crumble in those moments, but you have to keep your energy high and keep the team’s spirit up.” His words reveal not just a player who can score points, but one who understands the psychological aspects of the game—maintaining composure, instilling confidence in teammates, and embracing the leadership void left by the team’s absent stars.

JJ Redick, now in his second season as Lakers head coach, has been effusive in his praise for Reaves’ development both as a player and a leader. “That guy is going to show up in the big moments,” Redick remarked after the game. “I’m not surprised. He’s done that many times in his career.” Coming from Redick—himself a former sharpshooter who carved out a respected 15-year NBA career—these words carry significant weight. The coach’s confidence in Reaves has been evident in his willingness to put the ball in the guard’s hands during crucial moments, trusting his decision-making and clutch performance capabilities. This coach-player relationship appears to be flourishing, with Redick recognizing and nurturing Reaves’ natural talents while pushing him to expand his role within the team framework.

What makes Reaves’ emergence particularly valuable for the Lakers is its timing amid uncertainty. With the franchise reportedly moving toward a $10 billion team sale—news that has circulated throughout NBA circles—and stars like James and Doncic managing their health early in the season, Reaves represents stability and homegrown talent. His journey from undrafted prospect to two-way contract player to NBA starter and now to team leader embodies the developmental success stories that franchises dream about. For Lakers fans who have witnessed legends come and go through the decades, Reaves’ rise offers a compelling narrative of hard work and determination paying dividends, providing hope that the team’s future remains bright regardless of ownership changes or the inevitable transitions of aging superstars.

As the Lakers continue their early-season campaign, Reaves’ performance raises intriguing questions about the team’s ceiling and his own potential. Can he maintain this level of production when James and Doncic return to the lineup? Will his emergence alter the team’s dynamics and offensive strategies? These questions will be answered in time, but what’s already clear is that Austin Reaves has established himself as more than a complementary piece—he’s becoming a foundational element of this Lakers team. For a franchise with championship aspirations every season, discovering that an undrafted player can rise to such heights might prove just as valuable as any blockbuster trade or free-agent signing. The Lakers’ narrow victory over the Timberwolves may ultimately be remembered not just for the dramatic buzzer-beater, but as another chapter in the remarkable story of Austin Reaves, a player who continues to defy expectations and rewrite his own ceiling with each passing game.