With 0.0 seconds left on the clock, Austin Reaves banked in a 12-foot floater from the baseline, sending the Los Angeles Lakers into a frenzy and leaving the Minnesota Timberwolves stunned. The 116-115 win on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Target Center in Minneapolis wasn’t just another road victory—it was a statement. The Lakers, widely considered undermanned and outgunned, clawed back from a 20-point lead they nearly gave away, and Reaves, the 26-year-old guard with the quiet confidence of a veteran, delivered the kind of moment that turns early-season games into legends.
What Went Wrong for Minnesota?
The Timberwolves had every reason to believe they’d close it out. They led 91-86 with just under seven minutes left, and Donte DiVincenzo had just finished a driving layup that looked like the dagger. Mike Conley was orchestrating the offense with surgical precision. But then came the collapse—quiet, methodical, and brutal. The Wolves went scoreless for 3:12. No threes. No drives. No free throws. Just silence. Meanwhile, the Lakers, without Anthony Davis and with LeBron James still managing minutes off the bench, kept finding ways to score. Rui Hachimura hit two clutch jumpers. Jake LaRavia drained a three that tied the game at 113. And then, with 11 seconds left, Austin Reaves took the inbounds pass, dribbled left, stepped back slightly, and let it fly.
The Shot That Defined the Night
It wasn’t a step-back three. Not a fadeaway. Not even a clean look. It was a bank shot—old-school, gritty, the kind you see in high school gyms on rainy Tuesdays. And it dropped. The buzzer sounded. The arena went cold. Reaves turned, arms raised, and was immediately swallowed by his teammates. LakersGround.net captured it perfectly: "He ran back to the bench and was mobbed like he’d just won a championship." The shot was his 28th point of the night—11 of them in the final 4:17. He also had six assists, four rebounds, and zero turnovers. No superstar hype. Just execution.
How the Lakers Pulled It Off
They didn’t have the firepower of the Warriors or the depth of the Clippers. But they had rhythm. The Lakers opened the game with a 32-point first quarter, led by Dalton Knecht’s early aggression and Jarrett Hayes’s playmaking. By halftime, they were up 62-58. Then came the third quarter: 35 points, including a 26-foot three from Bryn Hyland that pushed the lead to 14. But the fourth? A nightmare. The Lakers scored just 19 points. The Wolves outscored them 29-19. It looked over. Until it wasn’t.
Coaching and Context: Redick’s Early Impact
It’s only five games in, but JJ Redick’s first season as head coach is already shaping up differently than expected. No flashy offense. No endless isolation plays. Just disciplined spacing, late-clock execution, and trust in role players. The Lakers are now 3-2, second in the Western Conference, one game behind the Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, under Chris Finch, fall to 2-3. They’ve lost three of their last four at home. The same team that looked like a title contender last season is now struggling to close out games. The difference? Pressure. The Lakers are playing with house money. The Wolves are playing with expectations.
What This Means for the Season
This win isn’t just about two points on a scoreboard. It’s about identity. The Lakers didn’t win because of star power—they won because they refused to quit. Reaves, once considered a fringe rotation player, is now the team’s most reliable closer. Hachimura is playing like a top-10 power forward. Knecht is emerging as a reliable shooter. And Redick? He’s got them believing in structure over flash. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves’ inability to close out leads—especially at home—is becoming a pattern. They’ve now lost three games by five points or fewer. The same roster that made the Western Conference Finals last year is now fighting to stay above .500.
Where Things Go From Here
The Lakers play the Sacramento Kings on Friday in a matchup of two teams trying to climb out of the Western Conference middle. The Timberwolves face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday—a brutal test after a demoralizing loss. For Reaves, the next challenge is consistency. Can he keep this up? Can he carry the load when LeBron and Davis return? For Minnesota, the question is simpler: Why do they keep losing when they’re ahead?
Game-by-Game Breakdown: Key Moments
- Q1: Lakers 32, Timberwolves 34
- Q2: Lakers 30, Timberwolves 24
- Q3: Lakers 35, Timberwolves 28 (Lakers up 97-86 at end)
- Q4: Lakers 19, Timberwolves 29 (Final: 116-115)
Reaves scored 11 of his 28 in the final 4:17. Hachimura added 22 points and 8 rebounds. Knecht had 18 off the bench. For Minnesota, DiVincenzo led with 24 points, but only 4 in the final 6 minutes. Conley finished with 16 assists—but zero points in the last 5:30.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Austin Reaves’ performance compare to his previous games?
Before this game, Reaves had averaged 14.2 points per game over the first four contests. His 28-point outburst was nearly double his season average and marked his first 25+ point game as a Laker. He also set a new career-high for points in a single game, surpassing his previous best of 25 set in March 2024. His efficiency—10-of-19 shooting, 4-of-6 from three—was the most efficient outing of his career under high-pressure minutes.
Why is this win significant for the Lakers’ season?
With key players sidelined and no dominant superstar carrying the load, this win proved the Lakers can win without LeBron or Davis dominating the stats. It validated coach JJ Redick’s system and gave the team confidence in its role players. At 3-2, they’re now firmly in playoff position, and Reaves’ emergence as a closer could shift their entire offensive identity moving forward.
What does this loss reveal about the Minnesota Timberwolves?
The Timberwolves are struggling with late-game execution and defensive focus. They’ve now lost three games by five points or fewer, including two at home. Their offense stalls when the shot clock winds down, and they lack a reliable closer. Despite having elite talent in Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, their bench and secondary playmakers haven’t stepped up under pressure.
How do the Western Conference standings look after this game?
The Golden State Warriors remain atop the conference at 4-1, while the Lakers moved into second at 3-2. The Clippers and Suns are tied at 2-2, and the Kings and Trail Blazers are struggling at 1-4 and 3-2 respectively. The Timberwolves sit fifth in the Northwest Division, three games behind the undefeated Thunder. The gap between the top and bottom of the West is already tightening.
Is this a sign that JJ Redick is turning the Lakers around?
Early signs point to yes. Redick’s system emphasizes spacing, ball movement, and late-clock discipline—exactly what the Lakers lacked last season. Reaves’ game-winner wasn’t a solo act; it was the result of a well-executed play design. The team’s assist-to-turnover ratio is now 22:9 over the last three games, a massive improvement from 15:12 in the first two. Redick is building culture, not just wins.
What’s next for Austin Reaves?
Reaves is now the Lakers’ de facto closer, and opposing defenses will target him. He’ll face tougher assignments—likely guarding All-Stars like Devin Booker or Luka Dončić. His minutes will increase, and his workload will grow. But if he keeps making clutch shots under pressure, he could become the first Laker since Kobe Bryant to earn a reputation as a game-winner without being the team’s top star.
